Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

trap

[trap] / træp /
NOUN
snare, trick
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ambush bait booby trap device net pitfall ploy quagmire ruse
STRONG
allurement ambuscade artifice come-on conspiracy deception decoy dragnet enticement feint gambit hook intrigue lasso lure machination maneuver noose plot prank quicksand snag stratagem subterfuge temptation wile
WEAK
inveiglement seducement
Antonyms
STRONG
frankness honesty honor openness truth truthfulness
VERB
catch, snare; trick
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ambush
STRONG
ambuscade beguile circumvent collar corner corral deceive decoy dupe enmesh ensnare entangle entrap fool grab hook inveigle land mousetrap 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.

The team created a complex structure in which mirror layers trap photons inside a central "quantum film."

From Science Daily • May 6, 2026

Here are five mistakes he’s making, and how leaders can avoid that trap.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

Spurs' central pressing trap forced Villa to play dangerous passes to their attackers who appeared free.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

Israeli soldiers in Lebanon said that units were scrambling and were now improvising solutions such as covering military equipment and outposts with nets to trap the drones, a method Ukraine has long relied on.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

We went down to the water, and Togbe nestled his new fish trap in the shallows.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Vocabulary lists containing trap

World Cup Vocabulary

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!