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Definition of entrap

entrap

/ɪnˈtræp/
en · trap
Past Simple:entrapped
•
Past Participle:entrapped
•
Present Participle:entrapping
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entrap Lexical Profile

entrap Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To catch or confine a person, animal, or substance in or as if in a trap from which escape is difficult.

Example

"Dense coastal marshes naturally entrap sediment and filter runoff before it reaches the open ocean."

2

To trick or deceive someone into a compromising situation or into committing an offense in order to secure their prosecution (especially in law).

Example

"The defense attorney argued that the undercover agents had unlawfully sought to entrap the defendant."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for entrap

• Nearby Words

entranceway
entrancing
entrant
entrap
entrapment
entreatingly
entredeux

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-16th century from Middle French entraper, formed from en- ('in') and trape ('trap'), which itself is of Germanic origin.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Entrap. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/entrap
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