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
As social ideas evolve, wavering in the face of these changes, remaining fixed in uncertainty in how to behave, can be a trap. Diana Arterian june 5, Literary Hub, 5 June 2025 Stay mindful, not strict Cruises should be fun, so don’t fall into the trap of striving for perfection. Leigh Morgan, Quartz, 2 June 2025
Verb
Firefighters had to lift the minivan to rescue four people trapped underneath. Jenna Sundel gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025 If trapped by moving water, seek the highest possible point and contact emergency services by calling 911. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 27 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for trap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trap
Noun
  • Three police officers shot in what appears to be a surprise ambush at the scene of a grisly murder.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
  • Osorio-Ortiz’s arrest warrant, which called the shooting a premeditated ambush, shows the argument centered around Rivera’s 18-year-old son, Josiah Lombillo, who lived with his mother and Osorio-Ortiz, and 20-year-old Keniel Gonzalez.
    Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • Other experimental drugs have targeted the tau tangles, a different protein that builds up inside nerve cells.
    Jon Hamilton, NPR, 30 May 2025
  • Despite the sleek design of modern gadgets and the rise of wireless solutions, both businesses and consumers still live in a frustrating tangle of cables.
    Mark Vena, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • And finally, a strong inner foil seal placed over the mouth of the bottle.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Blashill said as a smile lifted a corner of his mouth.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • Most horror flicks entrap their characters in one location or put them in some sort of unique, tense situation (think: satanic possession, or pissing off the wrong truck driver, attracting the wrong person, etc.), but in Final Destination, Death works with the great mundane canvas of ordinary life.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 May 2025
  • Early motherhood entraps them—and their children—in a bleak socioeconomic cycle that’s almost impossible to break.
    Elise Taylor, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Scott grabbed some pizza and returned to park her Subaru near the West Shore Market to wait for Serafini.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2025
  • Appeal To All Five Senses People still like going out, meeting others and grabbing coffee.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • For instance, the researchers uncovered an incident from 2008, when scientists had observed a male chimp freeing an unrelated female from a nylon snare set by hunters to trap game.
    Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2025
  • Wild chimpanzees have been observed self-medicating their wounds with plants, providing medical aid to other chimps and even removing others from snares left by human hunters, new research suggests.
    Evan Bush, NBC news, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • Try supplements: Certain supplements, such as Riboflavin and CoQ10, can help reduce the frequency and severity of attacks.
    Verywell Health, Verywell Health, 6 June 2025
  • Clearly, this is just the start of what will be an all-out attack on workers.
    Jim Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2025
Noun
  • The city’s extensive labyrinth of catacombs was nearby as well, underground ossuaries crammed full of the skeletal remains of millions of Parisians.
    Anelise Chen June 3, Literary Hub, 3 June 2025
  • Infant formula is also highly regulated, presenting any new entrant with a labyrinth of hoops to jump through.
    Alisha Haridasani Gupta, New York Times, 31 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trap. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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