as in trapped
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as in tangled
to catch or hold as if in a net
parked just out of view, the state trooper was lying in wait to ensnare unwary speeders
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Recent Examples of ensnared
Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
In week two of the biggest military operation of his presidency − a conflict that already has ensnared the Gulf states and NATO − the repercussions of rising oil prices are stoking his biggest political problem at home.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
The Iran war, now in its second week, has ensnared countries and places that are critical to the production and movement of oil and gas from the Persian Gulf.
—Elaine Kurtenbach, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
The Iran war, now in its second week, has ensnared places that are critical to the production and movement of oil and gas from the Persian Gulf, leading to price surges on global markets.
—Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Documents concerning UAPs are commonly ensnared with such sensitive intelligence that could impact national security if publicly disclosed, and would implicate a thorough declassification process.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
The travel chaos from the war in the Middle East has ensnared many of the Muslims who have converged on Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage, leaving them stranded and scrambling to find other ways home.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
The software disruption worries have, regrettably, ensnared the cybersecurity names.
—Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
And with the Epstein case unfolding unpredictably around the world, the Clintons are once again ensnared in the scandal of the moment.
—Steven Sloan The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
The investigation also ensnared 34 other individuals and led to 55 violations in total.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
In week two of the biggest military operation of his presidency − a conflict that already has ensnared the Gulf states and NATO − the repercussions of rising oil prices are stoking his biggest political problem at home.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
The Iran war, now in its second week, has ensnared countries and places that are critical to the production and movement of oil and gas from the Persian Gulf.
—Elaine Kurtenbach, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
The Iran war, now in its second week, has ensnared places that are critical to the production and movement of oil and gas from the Persian Gulf, leading to price surges on global markets.
—Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Documents concerning UAPs are commonly ensnared with such sensitive intelligence that could impact national security if publicly disclosed, and would implicate a thorough declassification process.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
The travel chaos from the war in the Middle East has ensnared many of the Muslims who have converged on Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage, leaving them stranded and scrambling to find other ways home.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
The software disruption worries have, regrettably, ensnared the cybersecurity names.
—Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
And with the Epstein case unfolding unpredictably around the world, the Clintons are once again ensnared in the scandal of the moment.
—Steven Sloan The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ensnared
Adjective
-
Millions of barrels of oil remain trapped in the Persian Gulf and traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz is effectively at a standstill.—
Skylar Woodhouse,
Fortune,
14 Mar. 2026
-
This is what can lead to trapped water, which can cause a ton of costly structural damage.—
Molly Burford,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Instead, gently tease out roots if they’re tangled but keep that familiar soil around them.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Now, my youthful experimentations with this stretchy style weren't exactly camera ready, as it was constantly getting tangled in my thick, wavy hair.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Buddhism and Hinduism spread across East and Southeast Asia without it, while many monotheisms—Judaism among them—remained bound to particular peoples.—
Manvir Singh,
New Yorker,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The Dodgers’ split-squad group that journeyed the 14 miles from Glendale (and ultimately lost to Texas, 7-6) was largely a skeleton crew of Triple-A bound prospects and wannabes.—
Tim Cowlishaw,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The video, which surfaced on Instagram around the time of a playoff game between Birdville and Burleson Centennial, used a scene from the 1970s television series Roots that shows an enslaved Black man yielding to a slave master.—
Myah Taylor,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Mar. 2026
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In September, a photo showing an enslaved man's scarred back from whippings was removed from a national monument in Georgia.—
Aida Mogos,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ensnared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ensnared. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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