1
a(1)
: a contrivance often consisting of a noose for entangling birds or mammals
(2)
b(1)
: something by which one is entangled, involved in difficulties, or impeded
(2)
: something deceptively attractive
2
[probably from Dutch snaar, literally, cord; akin to Old High German snuor]
a
: one of the catgut strings or metal spirals of a snare drum
b
3
: a surgical instrument consisting usually of a wire loop constricted by a mechanism in the handle and used for removing tissue masses (such as tonsils)
snared; snaring
1
a
: to capture by or as if by use of a snare
b
: to win or attain by artful or skillful maneuvers
2
: to entangle or hold as if in a snare
any object that snared his eye—
Current Biography
Current Biography
snarer
noun
Examples of snare in a Sentence
Noun
people caught in the snare of drug addiction
you fell for my clever snare, you fool!
Verb
They caught fish and snared seabirds.
Unfortunately, the nets also snare turtles.
They snared first place in the contest.
trying to snare business from competitors
The shortstop snared a high throw from the outfield.
Recent Examples on the Web
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 June 2025
Wolves are killed across the Northern Rockies using steel-jawed traps, neck snares, packs of dogs and even snowmobiles.
—Jim Martin, Denver Post, 27 June 2025
Luke Smith, New York Times, 11 July 2025
The first film in the new era of DC films under James Gunn and Peter Safran snared $22.5 million from preview showings.
—Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for snare
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
And Gemma and her cohorts are forced to develop new technologically advanced gizmos in a hurry and repurpose items on the fly in order to do battle with enemies amid the snares and dangers of these elaborate settings.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 June 2025
Wolves are killed across the Northern Rockies using steel-jawed traps, neck snares, packs of dogs and even snowmobiles.
—Jim Martin, Denver Post, 27 June 2025
Verb
Vettel then snared the drivers’ crown away from Webber and Ferrari rival Fernando Alonso at a tense finale in Abu Dhabi, becoming the youngest world champion in F1 history in the process.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 11 July 2025
The first film in the new era of DC films under James Gunn and Peter Safran snared $22.5 million from preview showings.
—Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for snare
Cite this Entry
“Snare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snare. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
snare
1 of 2 noun
ˈsna(ə)r 
ˈsne(ə)r
1
a
: a trap often consisting of a noose for catching small animals or birds
b
: something by which one is entangled, trapped, or deceived
2
: one of the catgut strings or metal spirals stretched across the bottom of a snare drum
snare
2 of 2 verb
snared; snaring
1
: to capture or entangle by or as if by use of a snare
2
: to win by skillful or deceptive measures
snarer
noun
Medical Definition
snare
noun
: a surgical instrument consisting usually of a wire loop constricted by a mechanism in the handle and used for removing tissue masses (as tonsils or polyps)
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