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
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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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of traps
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 31 Dec. 2025
Another possible explanation for the name is that this was also the season when people set beaver traps during the fur trade.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 17 Dec. 2025
The Tread, however, is genuinely lightweight (28 pounds) while still hitting 950 degrees Fahrenheit, thanks to clever double-wall construction that traps heat efficiently without the bulk.
—The Editors, Outside, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for traps
Noun
Using camera traps, scientists captured definitive images of the elusive species, one of only five monotremes known to exist.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 31 Dec. 2025
Another possible explanation for the name is that this was also the season when people set beaver traps during the fur trade.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
In one scene, the film’s villains, who run the Resources Development Administration, block the Tulkuns and traps them.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 17 Dec. 2025
The Tread, however, is genuinely lightweight (28 pounds) while still hitting 950 degrees Fahrenheit, thanks to clever double-wall construction that traps heat efficiently without the bulk.
—The Editors, Outside, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for traps
Recent Examples of Synonyms for traps
Noun
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In basic multiplayer fashion, there are bottlenecked spaces for ambushes, and everything loops together just fine for flanking.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Aside from games like volleyball and dominoes, Gach says some children stage fake ambushes on one another while pretending to be government forces or rebel fighters.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
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After spraying this before a braid takedown, my hair was visibly softer and easier to mange through tangles.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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Having the best brush for your dog will keep its coat free of tangles and might even prevent a big bill at the groomer’s.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Baby and Kids' Toys Babies put everything in their mouths, and the dishwasher is a perfect way to keep teething rings and pacifiers clean.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
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Some of the jurors craned their necks to see the photos, while others covered their mouths or lifted tissues to wipe their eyes.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Maybe Deandre Ayton snares his first signature Lakers moment.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But the sustained fury grabs you.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Today, artificial intelligence grabs headlines and AI stocks are soaring.—
Drew O’Connor,
Nashville Tennessean,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The agency was established in 2003 after the 9/11 attacks.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
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Ukraine's security service said that five rescue workers suffered injuries while responding to the site of ongoing attacks.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Fred Johnson, Darius Cooper and Jalyx Hunt traded their helmets for hair nets Monday night inside the MANNA Nutrition Center in Center City.—
Alicia Roberts,
CBS News,
6 Jan. 2026
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Broadcast nets regularly use big NFL games to platform new and returning series.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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 11 Jan. 2026.
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