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
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Recent Examples of traps
Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 28 Apr. 2026
In her telling, the literature of the past lays traps into which the rich and powerful, the boorish and sadistic, inevitably stumble.
—Charlie Tyson, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 15 Apr. 2026
Created by John Griffin (Crater) From unravels the mystery of a nightmarish town that traps all those who enter.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for traps
Noun
Three of the most common traps include fake shopping, investment, and romance websites.
—Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 28 Apr. 2026
In her telling, the literature of the past lays traps into which the rich and powerful, the boorish and sadistic, inevitably stumble.
—Charlie Tyson, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
Developed by a team of scientists from the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF), the new filter reportedly traps the fibers shed during everyday laundry.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 15 Apr. 2026
Created by John Griffin (Crater) From unravels the mystery of a nightmarish town that traps all those who enter.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for traps
Recent Examples of Synonyms for traps
Noun
-
Service members could face ambushes en route, and specialized units would need to extract the uranium.—
Jonathan Lemire,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Once an octopus ambushes and bites its prey, the venom in its saliva paralyzes the prey, allowing the octopus to consume it.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This can happen due to your natural hair texture, dryness, or environmental stressors like wind, friction from your pillowcase, or pollution—your cuticles can catch on each other like Velcro, Small says, causing tangles.—
Sarah Felbin,
Allure,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The microfiber-esque texture, Dyson says, allows for the cones to pick up hair without tangles.—
Adam Campbell-Schmitt,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Or, worse, how do dogs and pigs do it, with their litters, all those tiny mouths begging—is that what’s become of me?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Players who cover their mouths will be issued red cards, the International Football Association Board unanimously agreed at a special meeting Tuesday in Canada.—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 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
-
Fans start to notice what's happening about five seconds into it, and then another man comes up behind the fan, grabs him and tackles him into the seats.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
And if no candidate grabs a majority in either of those races, this district’s voters might have to go to the polls four times.—
East Bay Times editorial board,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
In recent years, a litany of violent, seemingly unprovoked attacks across Metro led to the deaths or severe injury of several passengers—a confirmation of Angelenos’ worst fears about the system.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
Earlier this week the United Nations blasted Israel over its strikes killing healthcare workers, saying the World Health Organization has recorded 151 such attacks resulting in 103 deaths and 230 injuries.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
After Hughes broke a tie midway through the third period, Matt Boldy scored his team-leading fifth and sixth goals of the series into empty nets to seal it.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In the meantime, Israel is taking measures on the ground to defend troops, such as adding nets and cages to military vehicles.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 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 9 May. 2026.
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