trap 1 of 2

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

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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

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4
as in mouth
slang the opening through which food passes into the body of an animal shut your trap before someone belts you one!

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trap

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb trap contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of trap are bag, capture, catch, ensnare, entrap, and snare. While all these words mean "to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing," 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

When could bag be used to replace trap?

The words bag and trap can be used in similar contexts, but bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.

bagged a brace of pheasants

When is it sensible to use capture instead of trap?

While in some cases nearly identical to trap, capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.

capture an enemy stronghold

When might catch be a better fit than trap?

In some situations, the words catch and trap are roughly equivalent. However, catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding.

caught the dog as it ran by

How do entrap and ensnare relate to one another, in the sense of trap?

Both entrap and ensnare more often are figurative.

entrapped the witness with a trick question
a sting operation that ensnared burglars

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of trap
Noun
Arakawa and Hackman were seemingly aware of the infestation because traps had been set up around the property, TMZ said. Martha Ross, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025 Tradition is both a source of security and a pacifying trap today. Usa Today, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
The ribbons trap the fruity dressing but aren’t overly saturated. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2025 But most of the gases beneath the volcano at Yellowstone are not trapped, emerging through geothermal features at Yellowstone’s surface. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trap
Noun
  • In addition to witnessing bloodshed as a soldier and a journalist, Godwin has also lost his eldest sister, Jain, who was killed along with her fiancé and their best man in an army ambush in 1978, just weeks before her wedding.
    Dina Gachman, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The first-half ambush was the best show of the beautiful game yet from the expansion club, rewarding folks who wanted a Major League Soccer team in San Diego.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Soon enough, this tangle of typical teenage troubles butts up against a sinister alternate universe, the Upside Down.
    Sarah Bahr, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The rubber brushes prevent tangles making long term clean up even easier.
    Carlos Mejia, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Weinstein often looked haggard and out of it — unshaven, mouth ajar, eyes bleary.
    Phoebe Eaton, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Instead, their mouth parts are made for primarily sucking on plant sap.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Gabi and Robinson head to the diner to entrap Maggie with yet another plate of cheese fries.
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Edward tentatively goes into another room and returns naked save for the mask entrapping his face.
    Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 12 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Antetokounmpo finished the game by scoring 36 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and blocking two shots.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 2025
  • So grab a pencil, a few colors or a coloring book and enjoy your boosted brain power.
    Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In addition to his work in the wind ensemble, Gael has been a key member of the marching band and indoor drumline, serving as lead snare drummer.
    Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Echoing the raw feelings of heartbreak, the album is stripped back, with sparse snares and cymbals in lieu of a full drumkit.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 20 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • In March, two days of U.S. attacks killed more than 50 people, Houthi officials said.
    USA Today, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Three decades later, the documentary Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror looks back on that day, featuring interviews with law enforcement involved in the case and victims of the attack.
    Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In the United States alone, navigating the labyrinth of healthcare administrative tasks costs up to $265 billion annually, according to a 2023 McKinsey analysis.
    Jacob Miller, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The 100-acre resort has a 45,000-square-foot waterpark with a labyrinth of waterslides.
    Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trap. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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