1
as in tangling
to catch or hold as if in a net
an ambitious young man who was now trapped in a series of shady business deals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grabbing
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
finally trapped the annoying fly in the palm of his hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of trapping
Once wed, Heathcliff immediately turns abusive, killing her dog by hanging it from a tree and trapping her at Wuthering Heights.
—
Becky Little, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
The project would capture carbon dioxide from ethanol plants and sequester it underground in North Dakota, to capitalize on federal tax credits incentivizing the prevention of heat-trapping emissions into the atmosphere.
—Meghan O'Brien, States Newsroom, 12 Feb. 2026
The drone completely destroyed the house in the city of Bohodukhiv, trapping the family under the rubble.
—Mariia Kashchenko, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
The Land Rover caught fire, trapping the driver inside.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
Like the air filter in your home, a microwave filter is responsible for trapping certain particles to keep them from entering the microwave's system and causing the appliance to malfunction.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 11 Feb. 2026
That probability will only increase as humans continue to burn fossil fuels and blanket the planet with more heat-trapping gases, researchers added.
—Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
The ultra-soft, heat-retaining fabric stretches close to the body, trapping warmth efficiently and making long evenings at Copenhagen’s Christmas markets far more enjoyable.
—Michelle Tchea, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2026
Snowfall acts as an insulator, trapping heat on the ground allowing many types of ticks to keep isolated against the cold.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2026
Becky Little, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
The project would capture carbon dioxide from ethanol plants and sequester it underground in North Dakota, to capitalize on federal tax credits incentivizing the prevention of heat-trapping emissions into the atmosphere.
—Meghan O'Brien, States Newsroom, 12 Feb. 2026
The drone completely destroyed the house in the city of Bohodukhiv, trapping the family under the rubble.
—Mariia Kashchenko, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
The Land Rover caught fire, trapping the driver inside.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
Like the air filter in your home, a microwave filter is responsible for trapping certain particles to keep them from entering the microwave's system and causing the appliance to malfunction.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 11 Feb. 2026
That probability will only increase as humans continue to burn fossil fuels and blanket the planet with more heat-trapping gases, researchers added.
—Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
The ultra-soft, heat-retaining fabric stretches close to the body, trapping warmth efficiently and making long evenings at Copenhagen’s Christmas markets far more enjoyable.
—Michelle Tchea, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2026
Snowfall acts as an insulator, trapping heat on the ground allowing many types of ticks to keep isolated against the cold.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trapping
Verb
-
Lightweight fabrics tumble more evenly, reducing the chance of tangling.—
Anyssa Roberts,
The Spruce,
5 Feb. 2026
-
This will help prevent tangling and stretching during the wash cycle.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Hearing the faint sirens of the white police officers who have been monitoring the area for no real reason, Kid attempts to blend into the party by grabbing the mic of the bored DJ—played by Parliament-Funkadelic’s George Clinton—to freestyle.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Or, Stein recommends grabbing a bed/mattress vacuum that is made specifically for the mattress.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The vehicle caught on fire, entrapping the boy, who was pronounced dead at the scene.—
Michael Guise,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Getting young people to trust and depend on the traffickers is part of entrapping them.—
Anne P. DePrince,
The Conversation,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
This winter, there’s a roster of new cookbooks catching our team’s attention.—
The Bon Appétit,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Emily Ratajkowski is catching flights, not feelings this year.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Pickens was even more dominant, snaring nine balls for 144 yards and a score.—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Nov. 2025
-
At least Cochrane was familiar with the feeling of snaring an interception.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Zayn winning in Montreal after eating an RKO and a Razor’s Edge, then snatching the pin on Priest with a Helluva Kick, gave you the biggest pop and the clearest storyline payoff of the night.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Masked agents snatching preschoolers off the street and sending them to Texas detention centers serves none of those purposes.—
Ryan Mancini,
The Hill,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That observation drove home for me how ensnaring this oppression must feel, how vast the spatial footprint of ICE’s boot.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The Greek name is of uncertain origin, but it’s often linked to ideas of binding, entangling, or ensnaring—reflecting the Sirens’ deadly allure.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Former Orlando guard Mac McClung, who signed a two-way contract with the Bulls this week, became the first three-peat winner of the dunk contest, capturing the title twice the past two years with the Magic and once with the Sixers.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The song’s rumbling bass shook the room as the crowd went berserk and phones launched into the air, capturing the whole thing for the feeds where Esdeekid’s music, so far, has thrived.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trapping. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
