1
as in ambush
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 ambushment
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 tangle
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 to tangle
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 to grab
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of trap
Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 26 Aug. 2025
Pull-downs train your back muscles, including your lats, traps, and rear delts.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 25 Aug. 2025
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 28 Aug. 2025
If trapped by moving water, seek the highest possible point and contact emergency services by calling 911.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trap
Noun
An unserviced grease trap and clogged pipes were two of the money sinks, Todd said.
—Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 26 Aug. 2025
Pull-downs train your back muscles, including your lats, traps, and rear delts.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
The Red Planet’s mantle is permanently trapped beneath an unmoving outer crust preserving the planet’s insides.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 28 Aug. 2025
If trapped by moving water, seek the highest possible point and contact emergency services by calling 911.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trap
Noun
-
Tuesday’s ambush wasn’t nearly as destructive as Monday’s, when Heliot Ramos and Rafael Devers hit back-to-back homers and third blast from Wilmer Flores dug the Padres into a 4-0 hole.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Aug. 2025
-
During the ambush, Smith was struck in the arm and leg.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The estate of Prince, who died in April 2016, has been involved in a tangle of lawsuits over ownership of the Purple One’s legacy.—
Andrew Flanagan,
Variety,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Lithium orotate helped the mice reduce production of the amyloid plaques and tau tangles, and allowed the microglial cells to remove the plaques much more effectively.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
And competitors were asked to participate in sometimes humiliating temptation challenges, when they were enticed with high-calorie treats or building towers made of bread using their mouths.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
20 Aug. 2025
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And so the people of Hiroshima today are walking through the forlorn desolation of their once proud city with gauze masks over their mouths and noses.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Hatt was ejected from the truck, and Winkler was entrapped.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Aug. 2025
-
Officers observed a person entrapped inside one of the vehicles, according to police.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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And since Birkenstocks almost never go on sale, this is the time to grab a pair before the season shifts.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Aug. 2025
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When the fatigue threshold is hit, a generative AI model can automatically suggest a range of alternative creatives, using insights from predictive models to determine which assets are most likely to grab attention.—
Sergii Denysenko,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Utilizing cameras to target offenders can both help the police deploy limited resources efficiently and — when combined with facial recognition or bike-registration data — snare offenders remotely.—
Steve Cohen,
New York Daily News,
13 July 2025
-
Complaining about the rich comes with many snares, as events reminded Anwar last week.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
5 July 2025
Noun
-
Two children were killed and 17 others were injured in the attack.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
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Frustrated with the lack of movement on his nominees, the president went on the attack against Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and vowed to take legal action against the longtime Senate custom.—
Al Weaver,
The Hill,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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But the structure of the bony labyrinth — a rigid area surrounding the inner ear, too small to see except with micro-CT — was a closer match to the anatomy of Neanderthals.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
28 Aug. 2025
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Pet sharks and underground labyrinths, unwelcome doppelgängers and vegetable-hungry monster-rabbits, rogue planets heading for Earth and diabolical Red Wizards—what do all these share in common?—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trap. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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