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
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2
as in attacks
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of traps
John Leos, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Those traps seem designed for people who look like us.
—Trymaine Lee, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
In contrast, focusing on weaknesses traps people in a cycle of fixing deficiencies; over time, this limits performance by missing opportunities to generate truly forward-looking solutions.
—Gamze Acar Bayraktaroglu, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for traps
Noun
Her latest project, monitoring 50 camera traps in the understudied Atascosa highlands region in southern Arizona resulted in a remarkable discovery.
—John Leos, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Those traps seem designed for people who look like us.
—Trymaine Lee, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
The freezing rain then traps lichen under a thick layer of ice where hungry reindeer can’t reach the food, according to Anna Skarin, a reindeer husbandry expert and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences professor.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
In contrast, focusing on weaknesses traps people in a cycle of fixing deficiencies; over time, this limits performance by missing opportunities to generate truly forward-looking solutions.
—Gamze Acar Bayraktaroglu, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for traps
Recent Examples of Synonyms for traps
Noun
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The mission has also lost two members of its force in gang ambushes; while one has been confirmed dead the other is still been regarded as missing even though local media has reported him as dead.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
1 Sep. 2025
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The recent Hamas ambushes have also raised growing concerns among Israeli military officials that more soldiers could be captured.—
Leila Seurat,
Foreign Affairs,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Democrats like Bell continue to defend Israel from progressive attacks.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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Terrorists expanded their use of the internet for a wide range of activities, including planning attacks, radicalization and recruitment, propaganda dissemination, and fundraising.—
Richard Frankel,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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English also says that protective or tight styles can also lead to matting if left in too long, by compacting tangles at the base.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
5 Sep. 2025
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Peralta leaders had kicked around the idea for years but avoided discussing it in concrete terms, with bureaucratic tangles often getting in the way.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The tests showed that the protusions' material bears a close genetic resemblance to the tooth-growing genes that are typically present in fish mouths.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
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Then, there’s the one about the two Asian guys who are harnessed to a chariot and made to pull it along, like horses, with bits in their mouths, while this other Asian guy, holding the reins, lashes them with a whip.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As fans scramble to catch the ball, footage shows, the ball appears to land one row in front of a woman while a man runs over and grabs it.—
Chandelis Duster,
NPR,
7 Sep. 2025
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With City’s left-back, Matheus Nunes, moving out of position to press Mainoo, Ugarte’s involvement grabs the attention of Ilkay Gundogan and Josko Gvardiol.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Alphonse Pierre’s Off the Dome column covers songs, mixtapes, albums, scenes, snippets, movies, Meek Mill tweets, fashion trends—and anything else that catches his attention.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
11 Sep. 2025
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The center beam shows color and detail clearly, while the outer glow only catches movement.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Unlike loofahs or scrubbing nets, which are made of non-recyclable plastic, wooden shower brushes are compostable.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Sep. 2025
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The two sides reached terms on a renewal after a short-term extension to their previous pact, averting a blackout of Fox News and other nets on YouTube TV.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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When Emily lands the coveted promotion that Luke had been vying for, their relationship ushers in a new complex power dynamic both inside and outside the office.—
Jacqueline Weiss,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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Reuters — The US government filed two lawsuits against Southern California Edison on Thursday, blaming the utility’s equipment for sparking two wildfires, including the Eaton Fire in January that damaged National Forest System lands.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Traps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traps. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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