1
a(1)
: a contrivance often consisting of a noose for entangling birds or mammals
(2)
b(1)
: something by which one is entangled, involved in difficulties, or impeded
(2)
: something deceptively attractive
2
[probably from Dutch snaar, literally, cord; akin to Old High German snuor]
a
: one of the catgut strings or metal spirals of a snare drum
b
3
: a surgical instrument consisting usually of a wire loop constricted by a mechanism in the handle and used for removing tissue masses (such as tonsils)
snared; snaring
1
a
: to capture by or as if by use of a snare
b
: to win or attain by artful or skillful maneuvers
2
: to entangle or hold as if in a snare
… any object that snared his eye …—
Current Biography
Current Biography
snarer
noun
Examples of snare in a Sentence
Noun
people caught in the snare of drug addiction
you fell for my clever snare, you fool!
Verb
They caught fish and snared seabirds.
Unfortunately, the nets also snare turtles.
They snared first place in the contest.
trying to snare business from competitors
The shortstop snared a high throw from the outfield.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jeff Miller, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026
Avery Sullivan, with whom Morris also plays in the country-rock band Fust, keeps loose time on drums, tapping the snare like someone setting down coffee mugs while Libby Rodenbough scrapes out a few melody lines on her fiddle and colors empty spaces with some ghostly tremolo.
—Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 1 Apr. 2026
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
Towns finished with 13 points on five-of-eight shooting from the field and snared just three rebounds.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for snare
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Noun
Beyond your signature snare, what stands out in the new drum lineup?
—Jeff Miller, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026
Avery Sullivan, with whom Morris also plays in the country-rock band Fust, keeps loose time on drums, tapping the snare like someone setting down coffee mugs while Libby Rodenbough scrapes out a few melody lines on her fiddle and colors empty spaces with some ghostly tremolo.
—Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
The show snared nearly $80 million in advertising revenue in 2024, according to Guideline, a tracker of ad spending.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
Towns finished with 13 points on five-of-eight shooting from the field and snared just three rebounds.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for snare
Cite this Entry
“Snare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snare. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
snare
1 of 2 noun
ˈsna(ə)r 
ˈsne(ə)r
1
a
: a trap often consisting of a noose for catching small animals or birds
b
: something by which one is entangled, trapped, or deceived
2
: one of the catgut strings or metal spirals stretched across the bottom of a snare drum
snare
2 of 2 verb
snared; snaring
1
: to capture or entangle by or as if by use of a snare
2
: to win by skillful or deceptive measures
snarer
noun
Medical Definition
snare
noun
: a surgical instrument consisting usually of a wire loop constricted by a mechanism in the handle and used for removing tissue masses (as tonsils or polyps)
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