trapping

verb

Definition of trappingnext
present participle of trap
1
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
2
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 Many were built during a prison boom that started in the 1970s and were constructed with heat-trapping materials like concrete and steel. — ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026 Heavy rain has already flooded some roads in southern New Mexico, trapping drivers in cars until the waters receded. — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026 In 2023, a blizzard dumped unprecedented amounts of snow, trapping people inside for days. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026 There is a feeling that constantly returning to the battles of the past risks trapping everybody in events that happened decades ago, when the priority should be preventing those old divisions from causing fresh damage in the present. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 23 Sep. 2026 For most communities, the other recommended courses of action involving fines, suspensions, TNR efforts and trapping/relocating the animals will hopefully solve the problem. — Michael L. Hyman, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026 Baked in high-heat Gozney ovens, the crust stays crisp while trapping steam and rendering juices inside. — Sam Flemming, AJC.com, 23 Sep. 2026 Greenhouse gas emissions contribute to climate change by increasing the concentration of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere. — Akshaya Jha, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026 Continue reading … DOWNTOWN DISASTER — Construction rig collapses onto vehicles in Miami, trapping 2 workers and sparking fire. — FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trapping
  1. tangling
  2. grabbing
  3. entrapping
  4. catching
  5. snaring
  6. snatching
  7. ensnaring
  8. capturing
Verb
  • There are also the journalists, the athletes, and the kids who spend sunny days doing contact improv, which was invented at Oberlin, tangling their limbs in the grass outside the library.
    — Jesse Dougherty, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Tie Loose Strings Tie sashes and strings to prevent tangling.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of tangling
Verb
  • The catalyst was a headline-grabbing second-quarter loss of $154 million that likely sent trading algorithms to hit the sell button.
    — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Lopez then attacked Hager, grabbing his holster, and the two men fought over the deputy’s service weapon, according to the arrest report.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 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
  • Her complexion was lit-from-within radiant, with the warm pink pigment catching the light across the tops of her cheekbones.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 3 Oct. 2026
  • In 134 career games, Stewart rushed for 7,335 yards and 51 touchdowns while catching 162 passes for 1,295 yards and seven touchdowns.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of catching
Verb
  • Dropping it onto likely pools without snaring the riverside vegetation required maximum focus.
    — Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of snaring
Verb
  • Not just college kids, but Others cheering for Texas’ football team and snatching up Texas’ degrees.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • London — Images of masked men riding along London's streets on mopeds or electric bikes and snatching phones straight out of the hand of unsuspecting tourists and locals have gone viral in recent years.
    — Emmet Lyons, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of snatching
Verb
  • From SiriusXM to gym memberships to streaming services, automatic rollovers are ensnaring consumers into subscriptions all across the economy.
    — Lindsay Owens, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • But Musk’s particular vulnerability now extends far beyond the boardroom, potentially ensnaring millions of mom-and-pop investors now exposed to one or both companies through index funds.
    — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of ensnaring
Verb
  • And rather than just capturing a small snapshot of what's going on, the ultraviolet imager can continually observe the show for up to 45 hours at a time, revealing how the auroral oval changes as conditions in the solar wind change.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Experts say flood maps need reform In many places, FEMA’s flood maps don’t do a good job of capturing the extent of severe flood risk.
    — Michael Phillis, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of capturing

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Cite this Entry

“Trapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trapping. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on trapping

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trapping

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