TRAPS Synonyms: 136 Similar and Opposite Words

traps 1 of 2

noun

plural of trap

as in ambushes

a device or scheme for capturing another by surprise undercover agents devised a trap to catch the counterfeiters a bear trap

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Relevance

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

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as in tangles

something that catches and holds the promotion is really just a trap to keep her from taking a new job elsewhere

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as in mouths

slang the opening through which food passes into the body of an animal shut your trap before someone belts you one!

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traps

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of trap

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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 traps

Noun

The cooling is a slow process, but failure to do so tends to leave the hot atoms able to hop out of the laser traps that hold them in a grid, which obviously introduces errors. —

ArsTechnica, 3 June 2026 Step two, if pests still show up, is traps and baits. —

Angela Haupt, Time, 3 June 2026

Verb

Since the thick rind traps its aroma, look for heavy melons rather than fragrant ones. —

Joanna Sciarrino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 May 2026 Modern advice culture, encompassing self-help and productivity, traps ambitious individuals in an endless cycle of seeking external validation, leading to overconsumption and diminished self-conviction. —

Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for traps

Recent Examples of Synonyms for traps

Noun

Cuba also maintains elite forces trained for counter-special-operations missions, guerrilla warfare, ambushes, sabotage and close protection of senior leaders.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026
Even in areas not under its direct control, the widespread sympathy in rural areas allows JNIM to set up ambushes along the main roads and dominate the main supply routes into the capitals, especially in Mali.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 10 May 2026