trap 1 of 2

noun

ˈtrap How to pronounce trap (audio)
Definition of trapnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
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!

Synonyms & Similar Words

trap

2 of 2

verb

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

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Cloudflare designed the trap pages and links to remain invisible and inaccessible to regular visitors, so people browsing the web don't run into them by accident. — Ars Technica, 21 Mar. 2025 Fans of Sommers’s retro action classic The Mummy will find plenty to enjoy, as a reluctant Mowgli leads a dastardly British captain (Cary Elwes) into various elaborate traps in search of hidden treasure. — Josh Bell, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
Allergens can get trapped in upholstery, which is much more challenging to clean.4 8. — Daniel More, Verywell Health, 26 Mar. 2025 That’s because all the air gets trapped in the elastic edges. — Kelly Dawson, Architectural Digest, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trap
  1. ambush
  2. tangle
  3. mouth
  4. entrap
  5. grab
  6. snare
  7. attack
  8. labyrinth
Noun
  • But then, on February 28th, Vance tag-teamed with Trump in the Oval Office ambush of Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine.
    — Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Watch Whoopi Goldberg lead The View cohosts singing, dancing about harmful tariffs to the tune of 'The Hokey Pokey' Naturally, this led to a live View ambush, with Teta and Behar cold-calling Haines during the recording.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of ambush
Noun
  • All the while, the brain hosts an even more complex tangle of chemicals.
    — Elana Spivack, Popular Science, 19 Mar. 2025
  • The fighting is fueled by the region’s vast mineral wealth, and driven by a tangle of ethnic and political conflicts, as well as decades of bad governance.
    — Patricia Huon, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of tangle
Noun
  • By now, Rick’s eyes are wide and his mouth is hanging open.
    — Judy Berman, TIME, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Most notably, Taylor, the bride's sister-in-law and bridesmaid, leaned forward and opened her mouth so wide that couldn't open any further.
    — Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of mouth
Verb
  • Gabi and Robinson head to the diner to entrap Maggie with yet another plate of cheese fries.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
  • In the initial announcement about the plan to vacate the convictions of felons entrapped by crack-selling stings in Broward County, the convicts were told not to contact the State Attorney's Office or the Broward Sheriff's Office.
    — Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2025
Definition of entrap
Verb
  • Bleeding and lying on the floor, Margarita managed to grab Marcos’s leg, while Leo managed to escape.
    — Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Most people scroll past because your opening didn't grab them fast enough.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of grab
Noun
  • 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
  • Bonham’s sister, Deborah, also provided the team with home movies from their childhood, which captured endearing footage of Baby Bonzo playing his first-ever drum kit with just a snare and cymbal.
    — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2025
Definition of snare
Noun
  • The ceasefire started in January, pausing a 15-month war sparked by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
    — Landon Mion, Fox News, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Ceasefire in tatters The ceasefire that took hold in January paused more than a year of fighting ignited by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel, in which militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 250 hostage.
    — Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of attack
Noun
  • Exploring the veritable labyrinth of luxury—past the couture salon displaying Jean Paul Gaultier and Yves Saint Laurent treasures, the jewel-box bathrooms, and down the spiral staircase—guests eventually arrived at the storied Red Room.
    — Freya Drohan, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The water level in the labyrinth of underground pipes began to drop, creating a vacuum in the system.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025
Definition of labyrinth

Phrases Containing trap

Browse Nearby Words

transversely
trap
trapdoor
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Cite this Entry

“Trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trap. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on trap

Nglish: Translation of trap for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trap

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