traps 1 of 2

Definition of trapsnext
plural of trap
1
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

4
as in mouths
slang the opening through which food passes into the body of an animal shut your trap before someone belts you one!

Synonyms & Similar Words

traps

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of trap

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
This horizontal pulling exercise effectively targets your mid-back, rhomboids, and traps, all of which contribute to improved posture and a balanced back. Jakob Roze, Health, 17 June 2026 Rules will vary state by state, but some require separate permits on top of your fishing license to do things like set minnow and crayfish traps. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 17 June 2026
Verb
The weather is being driven by a heat dome—a block of high pressure that traps hot air—hovering over Western Europe. Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 29 May 2026 The spathe is a curvaceous, hood-like, modified leaf or bract that attracts insects with its color and then traps them against the spadix, ensuring pollination. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 27 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
Noun
  • The Kerch road and rail crossing, opened by Putin in 2018, has been the target of previous Ukrainian attacks.
    Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
  • The first is Kryla, a compact cruise missile carrying a 50-kilogram warhead designed for saturation attacks.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • This Levoit vacuum just dropped under $200, and its impressive ability to pick up hair without any tangles is a pet owner’s dream.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 June 2026
  • Tuohy found that only our top overall robovac pick, the Matic, did a better job on hard surfaces, while the Saros 20’s DuoDivide brush is designed to resist hair tangles, reducing the amount of maintenance required.
    Sheena Vasani, The Verge, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • All those female mouths and caves!
    David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
  • The sending off was the first of its kind after the International Football Association Board — the body which sets the rules of the game — changed its laws in April to include players covering their mouths in instances of confrontation being punishable with a red card.
    George Edwards, New York Times, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • The hallmarks of the Navy Blue sound are present—barely-there snares keeping time in the distance, string samples melting into reflective puddles, overtones from resonant piano lines.
    Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 10 June 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • The design is what grabs your attention at first sight.
    Utkarsh Sood June 12, New Atlas, 12 June 2026
  • The goal is to have a welcoming environment that grabs visitors' attention.
    Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 10 June 2026
Noun
  • The pesky green organisms once again returned to the waters, with aerial photographs showing workers using what appear to be pool skimmer nets fishing out the unwanted growth over the weekend.
    Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 24 June 2026
  • Organizations that cast wider nets will discover stronger leaders, better ideas and greater resilience.
    Brian Castrucci, Forbes.com, 23 June 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

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Cite this Entry

“Traps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traps. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

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