ensnare

verb

en·​snare in-ˈsner 

en-

ensnared; ensnaring; ensnares

transitive verb

: to take in or as if in a snare

Synonyms

• catch up
• enmesh
• immesh
• ensnarl
• entangle
• entoil
• entrap
• mesh
• net
• snare
• tangle
• trap

Choose the Right Synonym for ensnare

catch, capture, trap, snare, entrap, ensnare, bag mean to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing.

catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding.

caught the dog as it ran by

capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.

capture an enemy stronghold

trap, snare, entrap, ensnare imply seizing by some device that holds the one caught at the mercy of the captor.

trap and snare apply more commonly to physical seizing.

trap animals

snared butterflies with a net

entrap and ensnare more often are figurative.

entrapped the witness with a trick question

a sting operation that ensnared burglars

bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.

bagged a brace of pheasants

Examples of ensnare in a Sentence

The animals got ensnared in the net.

The police successfully ensnared the burglar.

Recent Examples on the Web

Kasper’s official clients were groups led by former Commonwealth Edison executives — one being John Hooker, a powerful ComEd lobbyist who also became ensnared in the Madigan corruption probe and who was convicted last year as part of the ComEd Four case. —Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2024

This leads the bomber to ensnare Reeves’ character in another scheme that involves a bomb placed on a city bus that will detonate if the vehicle‘s speed drops below 50 mph. —Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2024

The big picture: Several Adams allies are also ensnared in the complicated legal web surrounding the mayor, as four different corruption probes unfold. —Avery Lotz, Axios, 2 Oct. 2024

Some analysts also worry that more lawfully present residents could become ensnared in a deportation dragnet already known for error. —Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ensnare

verb

en·​snare in-ˈsna(ə)r 

-ˈsne(ə)r

: snare entry 2 sense 1, entrap