1
as in ambushes
a device or scheme for capturing another by surprise
undercover agents devised a trap to catch the counterfeiters a bear trap
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in ambushments
a setup in which hidden attackers lie in wait
an overland route to the Far East that was once notorious for the many robbers who laid traps for unsuspecting wayfarers
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in tangles
something that catches and holds
the promotion is really just a trap to keep her from taking a new job elsewhere
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in snares
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 grabs
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
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Recent Examples of traps
David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
But talking about identity has ever-shifting rules and hierarchies that amount to bear-traps that can spring at any time.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
The porous volcanic ash, known as picón, traps condensation from morning dew and slowly channels moisture toward the roots.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for traps
Noun
This layer traps moisture up against the underside of the mower, inviting rust.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
But talking about identity has ever-shifting rules and hierarchies that amount to bear-traps that can spring at any time.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
Ideal for winter travel, the set is made from soft, thick fabric that traps heat and offers superior comfort.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
The porous volcanic ash, known as picón, traps condensation from morning dew and slowly channels moisture toward the roots.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for traps
Recent Examples of Synonyms for traps
Noun
-
In the months before the surge in operations, police lost 25 armored vehicles to ambushes involving barricades, trenches and Molotov cocktail attacks, authorities said.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Hamas has used the tunnels to store weapons, hide hostages and stage ambushes of Israeli soldiers.—
Samuel Granados,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Accessories should be minimal and delicate, to avoid any tangles mid-journey.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
14 Jan. 2026
-
But the seven-member volunteer commission — long expected to take the reins from OPD’s federal overseers — still seems to be struggling to gain footing within Oakland’s complex bureaucratic tangles.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
You are held in the mouths of 80,000 neighbors.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
-
These 100 trillion microorganisms live on our skin, in our mouths and deep within our digestive tracts.—
Adam Cohen,
Oklahoman,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Hair snares use tape and wire to collect DNA and other data by collecting a sample of wild animal hair when creatures pass by, according to Popular Science.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Maybe Deandre Ayton snares his first signature Lakers moment.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Cathy goes to wipe her fingers on her skirt, but Heathcliff instead grabs her hand and puts her fingers in his mouth.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Soon thereafter, a gear fishing pal of yours gifted you an old, unused fly rod, and that totally grabs a hold of you and completely directs the rest of your life.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Israel’s government has repeatedly criticized its counterpart in Australia for failing to address antisemitic attacks in the country.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
At least 77 people were killed in various attacks in Kordofan due to drone warfare in February.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The question of how the Bruins would put enough pucks in nets was one asked not just inside team offices but also around the league.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2026
-
And what about those nets that line the course?—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This superb thriller about an obsessed fan (Kathy Bates) who rescues, and then entraps, a best-selling author (James Caan) still stands as an edge-of-your-seat experience.—
Julie Hinds,
Freep.com,
15 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Traps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traps. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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