What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ensnare
Example
The spider ensnared the fly in its web. [ensnared: past tense]
Example
She was ensnared by his charm and ended up in a toxic relationship. [ensnared: past participle]
entrap
Example
The police officer was accused of entrapping innocent people into committing crimes. [entrapping: present participle]
Example
He felt entrapped in his job and wanted to quit. [entrapped: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Entrap is more commonly used than ensnare in everyday language. Entrap is often used in legal contexts and has a strong negative connotation, while ensnare is less common and can have a neutral or positive connotation depending on the context.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ensnare and entrap?
Both ensnare and entrap are formal words that are typically used in serious or legal contexts.
