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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of trap
James Grebey, Time, 10 July 2025
With a heavier lid and smaller heat vent than most slow cookers, the clay lid traps more of the steam and moisture that makes each dish so flavorful.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 9 July 2025
Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2025
Suddenly, the walls of the tunnel gave way, trapping the teen beneath the sand, the outlet reported.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for trap
Noun
Advertisement Another version of Krypto appeared in the 2001 comic event Return to Krypton, where Krypto was a dog from a false version of Krypton that the supervillain Brainiac created as a trap for Superman.
—James Grebey, Time, 10 July 2025
With a heavier lid and smaller heat vent than most slow cookers, the clay lid traps more of the steam and moisture that makes each dish so flavorful.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 9 July 2025
Verb
If the bidet has a filter for trapping and collecting mineral deposits and other debris, check it for blockages.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2025
Suddenly, the walls of the tunnel gave way, trapping the teen beneath the sand, the outlet reported.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for trap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trap
Noun
-
Waiting in ambush uses power, and the drone’s battery will have been running down.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
-
Authorities also confirmed the identity of the suspect in the firefighter ambush.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
In my experience, most sea salt sprays require some sort of trade-off: either tons of volume but tangles, or great wave definition but very little body.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
Glamour,
26 June 2025
-
One of the most aggressive garden invaders, bindweed rapidly rambles through perennials and shrubs, creating a leafy tangle of stems and foliage.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 June 2025
Noun
-
The kind guard in the lobby and my mother’s terrible, open mouth.—
Rebecca Chace
July 14,
Literary Hub,
14 July 2025
-
Vásquez Lasso hit Montano in the mouth area, and Montano shot the officer in the head, arm and leg as children and others in a nearby playground took cover.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
In February 2021, a Martian meteorite with the planet’s atmosphere entrapped in it went under the hammer at Christie’s auction house.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
2 July 2025
-
And some white citizens tried to help the victims: In 1870, Otis Gibson, a missionary, established a home to which entrapped young women could flee.—
Steve Inskeep,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Order fish tacos or fresh salads at Bad Boy Burrito; grab at coffee at Cafe Moka; shop for clothing and gifts at Miss Monroe Boutique; and browse the open-air stalls at boo kee sue Botanics for handmade textiles, ceramics, and more.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
12 July 2025
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Pick up seasonal staples like this breezy maxi dress and these Crocs recovery slides to comfortably beat the heat, or grab year-round closet staples like these classic Levi’s jeans and this timeless button-down shirt by Gap.—
Clara McMahon,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
Wolves are killed across the Northern Rockies using steel-jawed traps, neck snares, packs of dogs and even snowmobiles.—
Jim Martin,
Denver Post,
27 June 2025
-
After hundreds of years of persistent persecution—one generation of farmers learning from the previous generation to poison, snare, and shoot wolves—the animals’ near disappearance around the turn of the 20th century was celebrated throughout Europe as the end of a long, bloody, and hard-won war.—
Jonathan C. Slaght,
The Atlantic,
11 June 2025
Noun
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From 21 March on, the gang launched attacks against several areas in the communes of Petite Rivière de l’Artibonite and Marchand Dessalines.—
Jacqueline Charles
July 11,
Miami Herald,
11 July 2025
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But then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin repudiated the deal, saying a decision on the death penalty in an attack as grave as Sept. 11 should only be made by the defense secretary.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
Pushing a tile onto the board pushes another off and creates new routes through the labyrinth.—
Simon Hill,
Wired News,
9 July 2025
-
In the original, Emily, the enigmatic socialite, and Stephanie, the ever-eager mommy vlogger, navigated a labyrinth of secrets, betrayals, and, of course, a missing person.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trap. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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