trapping

verb

Definition of trappingnext
present participle of trap
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

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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 London — Eighteen people were injured, including two seriously, after a passenger train derailed in southern England on Thursday, trapping passengers inside carriages that had toppled onto their sides. — Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 The tree crashed through a back bedroom of the home, trapping the child, Low said. — Michelle Simmons, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026 Air in the Midwest is becoming more saturated with humidity as human activities release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, providing a key ingredient for strong thunderstorms that can produce tornadoes. — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026 Multistory buildings and homes tumbled, trapping people underneath. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026 The tree fell just feet away from the windshield, as seen in a photo published by WHAS 11, trapping an occupant inside. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 11 Aug. 2026 By adjusting the electron-trapping layer, the researchers could tune the device’s current recovery time across an approximately fivefold range. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2026 Brito’s pickup truck continued traveling east and hit the woman, trapping her underneath the vehicle, the affidavit said. — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 3 Aug. 2026 Tarps Covering an area with a dark tarp or landscape fabric can suppress weeds by blocking sunlight and trapping heat in a process called solarization. — Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 3 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trapping
  1. tangling
  2. grabbing
  3. entrapping
  4. catching
  5. snaring
  6. snatching
  7. ensnaring
  8. capturing
Verb
  • Specialized compartments for rings, statement necklaces, and dainty earrings keep each piece accessible, plus the soft material prevents tangling and damage.
    — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 2 Aug. 2026
  • If your duvet cover has buttons or zippers, Ceconi recommends fastening the closures before laundering to prevent tangling.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 14 July 2026
Definition of tangling
Verb
  • The trio of founders allegedly told investors that the brand would feature an app as its centerpiece and be boosted by major advertising deals and attention-grabbing celebrity photo shoots and cover stories.
    — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
  • One of the most attention-grabbing stars in the sky still keeps its secrets close—and that is one of the main reasons astronomers have so much fun studying it.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of grabbing
Verb
  • Democrats called the hearing a politically motivated attempt at entrapping Fauci and praised the scientist for his work during the pandemic.
    — Lauran Neergaard, Fortune, 29 July 2026
  • Another one of the Tates’ lawyers filed a claim on Fisher’s behalf, accusing Hadley of entrapping him.
    — Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Definition of entrapping
Verb
  • Benzina's spot kick was awarded after a VAR check penalized Algeria’s Lana Smits for catching Sakina Ouzraoui in the face with a flailing arm.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Known for his defensive skills and clubhouse presence rather than his bat, Tromp will provide a steady hand behind the plate, replacing Chuckie Robinson and providing depth alongside rookie Eliezer Alfonzo for the big league catching duo.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of catching
Verb
  • First baseman Michael Busch finished the play by reaching out and snaring Hoerner’s dazzling throw to complete the highlight and nab the speedy Salazar for the out.
    — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026
  • Pickens was even more dominant, snaring nine balls for 144 yards and a score.
    — Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2025
Definition of snaring
Verb
  • Surveillance footage shows Ruis snatching the $275 bauble, which was attached to a $3,500 Alo Odyssey duffel bag, and wrapping it in a tissue before stuffing it into his pocket, according to a criminal complaint and law enforcement sources.
    — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • And customers are still eating it up, showing up and snatching them up almost as quickly as Trader Joe's can stock them.
    — Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of snatching
Verb
  • And in that quest for unbridled growth, the AI industry has wrested ungodly amounts of capital from investors all looking for the next big thing, ensnaring the entire economy.
    — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
  • The upcoming April 7 vote over the renewal of Kansas City’s 1% earnings tax will mark one of the biggest tests of whether that opposition could risk ensnaring a critical resource for the city.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of ensnaring
Verb
  • The Arakan Army controls much of Rakhine after capturing territory from the military in recent years.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • This impending surge in lunar traffic makes time-sensitive missions like CosmoCube crucial to capturing the universe’s earliest faint signals before the quietest sanctuary in the solar system becomes noisy.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of capturing

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trapping
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Cite this Entry

“Trapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trapping. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on trapping

Nglish: Translation of trapping for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trapping

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