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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of trap
Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Anderson walks into the trap by trying to find Douglas Luiz, who is immediately tackled by Caicedo.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2025
The force of that expansion is strong enough to break steel pipes, split open watering wands, hose fittings, and anything else with water trapped in it, such as water features or hose timers.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trap
Noun
After their visits, stuff is always missing from my house — a hairbrush, my dog’s electric nail file, random dishes and plates, rat traps, laundry detergent packets, dollar store craft items, etc.
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Anderson walks into the trap by trying to find Douglas Luiz, who is immediately tackled by Caicedo.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
There’s the bar across the street, whose customers sometimes park their cars on the sidewalks and in front of The Grand’s garage exits, trapping residents inside.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2025
The force of that expansion is strong enough to break steel pipes, split open watering wands, hose fittings, and anything else with water trapped in it, such as water features or hose timers.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trap
Noun
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After what witnesses and victims described as an ambush, some inmates seized and passed out from the fumes.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Oct. 2025
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Israel launched strikes against Hamas in Gaza and reportedly suspended all aid shipments on Sunday after blaming Hamas for a lethal Palestinian ambush that left two soldiers dead.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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What is normal in the state of dementia, where connections are not being made, where tangle is all, objects take on a curious aspect, and where there is an unpleasant flavor to the hours?—
Joy Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
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In a yarn shop, a tangle of tariffs Sara Heckman’s shop Apricot Yarn & Supply sells yarn from around the world.—
Roxana Popescu,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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These words naturally lift the corners of your mouth and create a more genuine expression.—
Christine Buzan,
CNBC,
22 Oct. 2025
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Fatu was shown laid out, bleeding from the mouth, with what appeared to be teeth scattered on the floor nearby.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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One of the most disturbing sequences on this show is Gacy luring in and entrapping 15-year-old Robert Piest (Ryker Baloun), whose disappearance is where the series starts.—
Derek Lawrence,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
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Courts have sometimes concluded the government's conduct was outrageous when police have used brutality against a defendant or government agents entrapped a defendant.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Asian restaurant joins what has become an increasingly attractive section of Meridian for grabbing food.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
27 Oct. 2025
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The Clinton years and the 1990s, defined by continuous domestic economic growth and headline-grabbing scandals, were a time when liberal idealism was so strong that Aaron Sorkin wrote a show about it.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Unfortunately, during his journey, Vasi encountered a wire snare trap, which ended up clamped around his back leg in September 2019.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
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Christie Jourdain is band leader and snare drummer for The Original Pinettes, the city’s first all-female brass band that formed in 1991.—
Jenny Adams,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Federico Gatti was also excellent in thwarting Madrid’s attacks.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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The attack has spurred allegations of a hate crime against the girl, who is Yemeni and Muslim.—
Andrea May Sahouri,
Freep.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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From there, investigators, journalists, and suspects become entangled in a labyrinth of fear, obsession, and paranoia.—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
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More than 30 participating brands took over the center of the Oculus in a Sephoria-esque labyrinth of cubicles, each fashioned after each brand’s DNA.—
James Manso,
Footwear News,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trap. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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