Hi
I’m looking for the proper phrase to state the opposite of setting a trap. I had seen an article/video of chimpanzees “breaking” traps set for them. “Breaking” is not the right word. What is the right word to render the traps useless? I look forward to your feedback
davidmich
Spring a trap?
disabling a trap
disarming a trap
foiling a trap
rendering a trap harmless
tripping a trap safely
“Spring a trap” is ambiguous to the unaware reader. Is it the act of setting the trap ?
Is it the act of Disarming the trap ? Is every act of disarming a trap also “springing” the trap"
or is it a particular way of disarming the trap , but only when its a string type trap ?
The safe way to disarm the trap (that contains a spring) … ah, thats the technical term, disarm… is to tie the spring up, and then take the armament away (the knife or the loop or the lid or the explosives) …
So perhaps “made the trap safe”.
“He spotted a trap and set about making it safe.”
or "he spotted the trap, and set about disarming it ".
deactivate a trap?
I concur with this suggestion. “Disarm” sounds right to me.
‘fall into’ a trap?
I’d say “outwitting a trap” but it only gets 3 hits in Google.
Ackbaration.
I like ‘disarming a trap’ but the first thing that sprang to mind as an opposite to ‘to set a trap’ was ‘to trap a set’.
Yes, thank you for asking. I have taken my meds, but I do appreciate your solicitude. 
I’m going with “disarm” a trap, based on a computer game I used to play.
“Defuse” a trap was the first thing that came to my mind, but unless the trap involves explosives, I think “disarm” or “disable” or “deactivate” would be more appropriate.
thwart
“Clearing an area of traps,” perhaps? (looking at other people’s answers, I like “disabling a trap” as well).
Tripping is the term I’ve most often heard, disabling would be the next most common. YMMV
It depends whether the setting of the trap is undone deliberately, carefully and safely, or otherwise.
If you find a trap and carefully dismantle it, I’d call that “unsetting” the trap. (Think of removing a mouse trap after it’s been sitting for a month and never caught a mouse and the bait is stale.) But if it’s some large or complicated device, probably “dismantle” is the word.
If someone steps on the trap or otherwise disturbs it unintentionally (perhaps getting caught in the trap or perhaps not), I’d call that “springing” the trap.
If you’re leaving it in place, then I’d say ‘disarm’. If you’re actually removing the trap, then I’d say ‘recover’. Disarming is implied in the recovery process, so no need to belabor that point unless you’re actually leaving the trap inert in the deployed location.
In our campaigns the trap will be disarmed or disabled by the thief, maybe the rogue.
Failing that, the barbarian just tosses the dwarf at it.
The opposite of setting is picking up.