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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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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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
Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
For best results, install traps along walls, under appliances, and in other dark corners where mice are active and check the traps daily so mice don’t stay confined for long.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 7 Jan. 2026
Paula Wethington, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
There, animal control officer Bobby Jumper investigated the area and found a dog, trapped inside a 12-foot deep well sitting beneath the house.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trap
Noun
The Bears coach loved every second of Jackson’s trap block, which aided a 9-yard Kyle Monangai run.
—Verb
The animals have become trapped in a swimming pool and caused tree damage.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for trap
Noun
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Maybe Buffalo is a team of destiny, but this feels like an ambush in waiting.—
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Meanwhile, after surviving an ambush, Kyle finally confronts Callahan (Richard Brake), the man who killed his wife Tracy (Nishi Munshi).—
Noun
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After spraying this before a braid takedown, my hair was visibly softer and easier to mange through tangles.—
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Having the best brush for your dog will keep its coat free of tangles and might even prevent a big bill at the groomer’s.—
Noun
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Baby and Kids' Toys Babies put everything in their mouths, and the dishwasher is a perfect way to keep teething rings and pacifiers clean.—
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Mistora, the mysterious cocktail bar that opened last year in Atlanta’s Piedmont Heights neighborhood, put a bad taste in my mouth before the first dish even touched my table.—
Verb
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Optical atomic clocks, which use intersecting laser beams to entrap and monitor the atoms, are currently accurate down to 1 attosecond, or a billionth of a billionth of a second.—
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Getting young people to trust and depend on the traffickers is part of entrapping them.—
Verb
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Tri-State Fishing and Outdoor Show Don your camo gear and grab your fishing poles for the Tri-State Fishing and Outdoor Show.—
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The suspects, seen grabbing armfuls of merchandise during multiple rounds of theft, reportedly fled in a U-Haul truck, Lower Merion Police told Fox 29 Philadelphia.—
Noun
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But the trial quickly hit a snare Tuesday after the state brought Paul Yaras with the Illinois Department of Revenue to present expert testimony on the business owners’ tax returns.—
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The Rolling Stones were defined by the sound of Charlie Watts’s snare from their first public breakthrough.—
Noun
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Good's defenders – including city and state leaders – are calling what happened an unjustified attack; federal authorities say the agent was acting in self-defense.—
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In Kyiv, a CNN reporter said that the attack began around midnight, starting with multiple drone strikes on residential buildings.—
Noun
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Separated by labyrinths of creeks and smaller cays, each one represents a stepping stone away from civilization, Parrish told me.—
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The farm’s shop, walking trails, lavender labyrinth, and fairy garden are open year-round.—
Cite this Entry
“Trap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trap. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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