as in bound
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in tangled
to catch or hold as if in a net
an ambitious young man who was now trapped in a series of shady business deals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grabbed
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
finally trapped the annoying fly in the palm of his hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of trapped
CNN Money, 30 May 2026
Finding the source can be challenging, from the toilet to drains and trapped moisture.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
The trapped villagers were provided water and soft food as well as foil blankets for warmth, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
Four people were killed and 90 remain trapped following a coal mine accident in northern China, according to Chinese state media.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 22 May 2026
Made from 100 percent sateen cotton, the sheets are designed to feel silky-smooth to the touch while still promoting airflow to help keep trapped heat at bay.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2026
Similar to how cosmic impacts can agitate and heat lunar regolith to liberate trapped particles from the solar wind, machines can do much the same.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 14 May 2026
The result can be dingy clothes, trapped odors, excess suds and even buildup inside your washing machine.
—Ryan Brennan
may 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
In these situations, goalkeepers can often become trapped on their line and unable to react forward into the save, something Raya completely avoided here to put Arsenal five points clear.
—Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
The news quickly drew headlines in Thailand because of its resemblance to the dramatic 2018 cave rescue in northern Thailand, where 12 boys and their soccer coach were trapped for more than two weeks before being safely rescued in an operation that became a global sensation.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
On the next offensive possession, the Sun once again trapped her on a pick-and-roll, but this time stayed home on the shooters.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
Witnesses also reported that one of the vehicles had caught fire with a person still trapped inside.
—Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 26 May 2026
Organizational Memory Becomes Searchable Institutional knowledge, once trapped in people’s heads or scattered across documents, becomes accessible on demand.
—Yu Fang, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Move a single armchair, however, and the machine may spin in confused circles, trapped by its own digital blueprint.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 25 May 2026
If water can’t circulate effectively enough to move throughout the dishwasher, food debris can get trapped and end up building up over time, clogging the drain or filter.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
Radioactive stardust remnants from stellar explosions have been found trapped in ice in Antarctica.
—Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 18 May 2026
Adjective
Expert divers shared further details of Saturday’s plan to evacuate the four men who remain trapped in the cave, with two still missing.
—CNN Money, 30 May 2026
Finding the source can be challenging, from the toilet to drains and trapped moisture.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
The trapped villagers were provided water and soft food as well as foil blankets for warmth, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
Four people were killed and 90 remain trapped following a coal mine accident in northern China, according to Chinese state media.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 22 May 2026
Made from 100 percent sateen cotton, the sheets are designed to feel silky-smooth to the touch while still promoting airflow to help keep trapped heat at bay.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2026
Similar to how cosmic impacts can agitate and heat lunar regolith to liberate trapped particles from the solar wind, machines can do much the same.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 14 May 2026
The result can be dingy clothes, trapped odors, excess suds and even buildup inside your washing machine.
—Ryan Brennan
may 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
In these situations, goalkeepers can often become trapped on their line and unable to react forward into the save, something Raya completely avoided here to put Arsenal five points clear.
—Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Verb
Sherri Wright recalled the moment of impact and waking up trapped inside the wreckage.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
The news quickly drew headlines in Thailand because of its resemblance to the dramatic 2018 cave rescue in northern Thailand, where 12 boys and their soccer coach were trapped for more than two weeks before being safely rescued in an operation that became a global sensation.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
On the next offensive possession, the Sun once again trapped her on a pick-and-roll, but this time stayed home on the shooters.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
Witnesses also reported that one of the vehicles had caught fire with a person still trapped inside.
—Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 26 May 2026
Organizational Memory Becomes Searchable Institutional knowledge, once trapped in people’s heads or scattered across documents, becomes accessible on demand.
—Yu Fang, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Move a single armchair, however, and the machine may spin in confused circles, trapped by its own digital blueprint.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 25 May 2026
If water can’t circulate effectively enough to move throughout the dishwasher, food debris can get trapped and end up building up over time, clogging the drain or filter.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
Radioactive stardust remnants from stellar explosions have been found trapped in ice in Antarctica.
—Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 18 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trapped
Adjective
-
Years later, when tragedy strikes again and a mysterious inheritance surfaces, Ruth is forced to confront unsettling truths about the women who raised her and decide whether to redefine her future or remain bound to the past.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
22 May 2026
-
The bound paper booklets in which students hand-write their responses to test questions have surged in popularity during the AI explosion.—
Jamil Zaki,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Representative Mike Collins and former football coach Derek Dooley are tangled in a bitter contest that’s headed to a runoff on June 16.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
29 May 2026
-
The Thunder’s history on May 28 is troubled and tangled.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
In the final two minutes, Salaün grabbed two crucial rebounds, hit two free throws, and knocked down a clutch jumper that gave Golden State a 87-84 lead.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
Howard added 22 points and grabbed a team-best eight rebounds, and Miles added 16 points and eight assists.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Martha Custis, at age 26, became a very wealthy widow with two young children, a 17,500-acre plantation to manage, and responsible for almost 300 enslaved people.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
8 May 2026
-
Djimon Hounsou played Maximus’ right-hand man and closest ally, a Black Numidian man taken from his home as an enslaved gladiator.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
5 May 2026
Verb
-
At least one person was entrapped in the wreckage, according to the Forney Police Department.—
Steven Rosenbaum,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Stevenson insists that the goal of the Legacy Museum is not to present Alabama as irredeemably racist or forever entrapped by its past.—
Clint Smith,
The Atlantic,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Marcus Ingvartsen has become one of the league’s most efficient finishers, Anders Dreyer remains the club’s creative pulse and Mikey Varas’ team still plays with the possession-heavy ambition that caught everyone by surprise in its inaugural season.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
Tomato plants can make a healthy recovery and return to normal from curling leaves, especially if it’s caught early and adjustments are made.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Darker colors like charcoal or slate gray absorb light and can make a kitchen feel more confined.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
24 May 2026
-
Moving materials between workstations, restocking inventory in busy warehouses, tending machines built for human interaction, and conducting inspections in dangerous and confined spaces aren’t glamorous use cases.—
Robert Ambrose,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Those charges followed a sprawling indictment of 34 defendants that also ensnared Hall of Fame player and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and former Lakers assistant coach Damon Jones.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
Over 30 people, including members and associates of four major Mafia crime families, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and ex-NBA player Damon Jones, have been ensnared in the criminal operation.—
Tom Winter,
NBC news,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trapped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trapped. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
