ensnare

verb

en·​snare in-ˈsner How to pronounce ensnare (audio)
en-
ensnared; ensnaring; ensnares
Synonyms of ensnarenext

transitive verb

: to take in or as if in a snare

Synonyms

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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
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.
The family of shows ensnared plenty of big names throughout their air, including Gary Busey, Omarosa, LaToya Jackson and Lisa Rinna. — Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2025 Microsoft’s center of gravity in corporate software ultimately ensnared Skype, which found itself in the Office division and under orders to build tools geared toward a workplace audience as well as a consumer one. — Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 28 Feb. 2025 Adams, who pleaded not guilty in September and is expected to stand trial in April, has also seen a number of top advisers resign from his administration in recent months after being ensnared in their own corruption probes. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2025 Some represented the type of fans the tournament hopes to ensnare: people without any affiliation at all. — Andy McCullough, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ensnare

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ensnare was in 1576

Rhymes for ensnare

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ensnare
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Cite this Entry

“Ensnare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ensnare. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of ensnare for Spanish Speakers

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