ensnare

American

[en-snair] / ɛnˈsnɛər /

verb (used with object)

ensnared, ensnaring

to capture in, or involve as in, a snare.

to be ensnared by lies; to ensnare birds.

Synonyms:

enmesh, entangle, entrap

Antonyms:

release

ensnare British

/ ɪnˈsnɛə /

verb

to catch or trap in a snare
to trap or gain power over someone by dishonest or underhand means

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

ensnarement noun
ensnarer noun
ensnaringly adverb
unensnared adjective

Etymology

Origin of ensnare

First recorded in 1585–95; en- ¹ + snare ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Multilingual scripts, images of young women and timed toilet breaks: a police tour of a newly busted cyberscam operation in Cambodia on Wednesday revealed how fraudsters ensnare foreign victims online.

From Barron's

“She’s ensnared in a tangle of weeds. They’re caught within her fur, and she cannot escape, Handsome!”

From Literature

Enforcement is strict, even ensnaring a state biologist a few years ago.

From The Wall Street Journal

The investigation that ultimately ensnared Hernández stretched across several U.S. presidencies.

From Salon

Karp also appeared to seek favors from Epstein, ensnaring himself in his web.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023