ensnare

verb

en·​snare in-ˈsner 

en-

ensnared; ensnaring; ensnares

transitive verb

: to take in or as if in a snare

Synonyms

• catch up
• enmesh
• immesh
• ensnarl
• entangle
• entoil
• entrap
• mesh
• net
• snare
• tangle
• trap

Choose the Right Synonym for ensnare

catch, capture, trap, snare, entrap, ensnare, bag mean to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing.

catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding.

caught the dog as it ran by

capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.

capture an enemy stronghold

trap, snare, entrap, ensnare imply seizing by some device that holds the one caught at the mercy of the captor.

trap and snare apply more commonly to physical seizing.

trap animals

snared butterflies with a net

entrap and ensnare more often are figurative.

entrapped the witness with a trick question

a sting operation that ensnared burglars

bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.

bagged a brace of pheasants

Examples of ensnare in a Sentence

The animals got ensnared in the net.

The police successfully ensnared the burglar.

Recent Examples on the Web

The big picture: The report from Inspector General Michael Horowitz undercuts the false claim among President-elect Trump's supporters and allies that a covert intelligence effort facilitated the infamous attack to ensnare the MAGA movement. —Avery Lotz, Axios, 12 Dec. 2024

As Aidala angles to become Brooklyn’s next top federal prosecutor, several individuals connected to Adams are ensnared in investigations conducted by Peace’s office. —Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 4 Dec. 2024

The club reopened in 2021, but lost its trademark that same year, got ensnared in labor disputes, and shuttered, seemingly for good, in the spring of 2023, after the default. —Bruce Handy, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024

Now Lumumba, 41, stands accused in a sprawling corruption scandal that has also ensnared Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and City Council members Aaron Banks and Angelique Lee. —Bracey Harris, NBC News, 19 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ensnare

verb

en·​snare in-ˈsna(ə)r 

-ˈsne(ə)r

: snare entry 2 sense 1, entrap