Definitions

mousetrap

[mous-trap] / ˈmaʊsˌtræp /

NOUN

booby trap

Synonyms

STRONGEST

land mine

WEAK

ambush baited trap deadfall decoy hidden danger mine pitfall setup snare trap trip wire

NOUN

enticement

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bait come-on inducement sweetener

STRONG

attraction blandishment cajolery coaxing decoy fascination lure promise seduction snare sweetening temptation trap

WEAK

come-hither inveiglement

Antonyms

STRONG

repulsion

WEAK

disgust dissuasion

NOUN

inveiglement

Synonyms

WEAK

allurement ambush appeal attraction bait bribe call camouflage carrot come-on con game decoy delusion draw enticement fake gimmick hook illusion incentive inducement invitation magnet pull seducement seduction siren song sitting duck snare sweetener temptation tout trap trick

NOUN

lure

Synonyms

STRONG

allurement ambush appeal attraction bribe call camouflage carrot come-on decoy delusion draw enticement fake gimmick hook illusion incentive inducement invitation magnet pull seduction snare sweetener temptation tout trap trick

WEAK

con game inveiglement seducement siren song sitting duck

Antonyms

STRONG

certainty discouragement fact hindrance reality repulsion

WEAK

deterrent warning

NOUN

pitfall

Synonyms

STRONGEST

danger difficulty drawback peril risk snag

STRONG

catch downfall entanglement hook mesh pit quicksand setup snare swindle toil web

WEAK

booby trap deadfall

Antonyms

STRONGEST

advantage safety security

WEAK

blessing good luck

VERB

attract

Synonyms

STRONGEST

appeal to bring captivate draw engage entice fascinate interest intrigue invite kill send

STRONG

allure bait beckon beguile bewitch charm court drag enchant endear enthrall entrance grab hook induce inveigle lure magnetize pull rizz up score seduce slay solicit spellbind steer tempt vamp wow

WEAK

come on exert influence freak out give the come-on go over big knock dead knock out make a hit with rope in suck in sweep off one's feet turn on wile

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bore disenchant disgust disinterest refuse reject repel repulse shun turn off

STRONG

deter discourage dissuade

VERB

corner

Synonyms

STRONG

bottle capture catch collar fool nab seize snare trap tree trick trouble

WEAK

bring to bay get on ropes have up a tree put out

Antonyms

STRONG

free let go liberate lose release

VERB

decoy

Synonyms

STRONG

allure con deceive delude ensnare entice fascinate inveigle lure mislead seduce shill steer tempt toll tout trap wile

WEAK

egg on ensorcell lead on lead up garden path rope in suck in

Antonyms

STRONG

be honest discourage disenchant disgust dissuade let go release repel repulse turn off

VERB

delude

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dupe hoodwink misguide mislead

STRONG

beguile betray bluff cheat con cozen gull hoax jive juggle outfox snow trick

WEAK

caboodle disinform do a number on double-cross illude impose on lead up garden path play trick on string along sucker take in

Antonyms

STRONG

be honest

WEAK

be truthful

VERB

intrigue

Synonyms

STRONGEST

attract captivate charm delight enchant entertain excite fascinate pique please rivet tickle titillate

STRONG

appeal bait con draw grab hook interest pull tout

WEAK

lead on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bore depress disenchant disgust displease offend refuse repel repulse tire turn off

STRONG

let go push release

WEAK

forget neglect

VERB

misinform

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deceive misguide mislead

STRONG

lie misdirect misstate pervert prevaricate signify

WEAK

bait-and-switch cover up disinform double-talk doublespeak lead astray put on put on an act put on false front put up a smokescreen string along wrong steer

Antonyms

STRONG

straighten

WEAK

inform tell all

VERB

seduce

Synonyms

STRONGEST

beguile betray deceive delude entice persuade

STRONG

bait bribe coax decoy draw entrap hook induce inveigle invite lure mislead pull steer wheedle

WEAK

lead astray lead on rope in string along sucker

Antonyms

STRONGEST

dissuade

STRONG

disenchant disgust push reject release repel repulse turn off

VERB

tempt

Synonyms

STRONGEST

appeal to attract captivate charm dare fascinate induce intrigue invite motivate persuade seduce stimulate tantalize woo

STRONG

allure bait coax court decoy draw entrap honey up hook incite influence instigate inveigle move oil promote provoke risk rouse solicit test train try wheedle whet

WEAK

butter up draw out lead on make mouth water play up to turn one's head

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bore depress discourage disenchant dissuade hinder offend prevent repel repulse

STRONG

delight deter dishearten dull halt please reject release stop turn off

VERB

trap

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ambush

STRONG

ambuscade beguile circumvent collar corner corral deceive decoy dupe enmesh ensnare entangle entrap fool grab hook inveigle land nab nail net overtake seduce snag surprise take tangle trammel

WEAK

box in rope in suck in trip up

Antonyms

STRONG

aid assist disenchant disentangle free help let go liberate lose release untangle untwist

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

If I can create a better mousetrap, because I’m observing something that has just been accepted, and I can do it better, then I will go into that industry.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

A bit like setting and later triggering a mousetrap.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

They were flawed individuals, but they had a crucial insight into how to build a better mousetrap.

From Salon • Jul. 6, 2023

"Wagner troops climbed into Bakhmut like rats into a mousetrap," Oleksander Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, told troops at the Bakhmut front this week.

From Reuters • May 20, 2023

It opened behind the big black iron stove, just to the left of the mousetrap.

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck

mousetrap

Example Sentences

Related Words