TRAPPING Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

trapping

verb

Definition of trapping

present participle of trap

as in tangling

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in grabbing

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 trapping After marking his 61st birthday with a vintage video from his 3rd birthday back in 1966, Stamos returned to thirst-trapping for his 62nd. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Aug. 2026 McLoughlin and colleagues William Jimeno and Dominick Pezzulo were on the main concourse between the two towers when the South Tower collapsed, trapping them in the rubble 30 feet underground. — ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2026 Jayasuriya struck a second time shortly after, trapping Shubman Gill (8) lbw as India slipped to 81-3. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 Settlers have surrounded three Palestinian houses for more than a week, trapping families inside as Israeli troops declare a closed military zone and Washington issues an unusually sharp condemnation. — Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 Multistory buildings and homes tumbled, trapping residents underneath. — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 Hamilton started the sermon by pointing out that the broad majority of climate scientists agree human activity, such as burning fossil fuels, contributes to global warming by releasing heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026 London — Eighteen people were injured, including two seriously, after a passenger train derailed in southern England on Thursday, trapping passengers inside carriages that had toppled onto their sides. — Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 Air in the Midwest is becoming more saturated with humidity as human activities release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, providing a key ingredient for strong thunderstorms that can produce tornadoes. — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for trapping

Verb

Specialized compartments for rings, statement necklaces, and dainty earrings keep each piece accessible, plus the soft material prevents tangling and damage.

— Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 2 Aug. 2026
If your duvet cover has buttons or zippers, Ceconi recommends fastening the closures before laundering to prevent tangling.

— Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 14 July 2026

Definition of tangling

Verb

One of the more memorable instances finds Cole grabbing an open padlock off a door and using it to belt an opponent across the face before hooking the shackle into the dude’s mouth and using it to rip open his cheek.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026
But everything points to his being ready for Week 1, and Jones already didn’t run as much between the 10s last year, so a free ticket on a potential fringe-QB1 is worth grabbing.

— Jake Ciely, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of grabbing

Verb

Democrats called the hearing a politically motivated attempt at entrapping Fauci and praised the scientist for his work during the pandemic.

— Lauran Neergaard, Fortune, 29 July 2026
Another one of the Tates’ lawyers filed a claim on Fisher’s behalf, accusing Hadley of entrapping him.

— Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026

Definition of entrapping

Verb

The Braves have Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy atop their catching depth chart, but a brutal injury setback involving veteran backstop Sandy Leon has now forced the organization to seek out another experienced option.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
But there’s also a similar pathology and high that comes from going deep undercover for the animal cops and eventually catching their prize, which might be Anson Wong, Michael Van Nostrand or Tommy Crutchfield.

— Katie Campione, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of catching

Verb

First baseman Michael Busch finished the play by reaching out and snaring Hoerner’s dazzling throw to complete the highlight and nab the speedy Salazar for the out.

— Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026
Pickens was even more dominant, snaring nine balls for 144 yards and a score.

— Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2025

Definition of snaring

Verb

Lately Becker has been snatching up vintage Lalique pieces that, in this setting, have the frosty haze of sea glass.

— Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 21 Aug. 2026
Surveillance footage shows Ruis snatching the $275 bauble, which was attached to a $3,500 Alo Odyssey duffel bag, and wrapping it in a tissue before stuffing it into his pocket, according to a criminal complaint and law enforcement sources.

— Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of snatching

Verb

Xinhua The anti-corruption campaign has reached every level of China’s political system, ensnaring millions of senior leaders and rank-and-file officials.

— Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
And in that quest for unbridled growth, the AI industry has wrested ungodly amounts of capital from investors all looking for the next big thing, ensnaring the entire economy.

— Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026

Definition of ensnaring

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“Trapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trapping. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of trapping

verb

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