ARREST Synonyms: 190 Similar and Opposite Words

arrest 1 of 2

verb

ə-ˈrest

Definition of arrest

as in to seize

to take or keep under one's control by authority of law the inept robber was promptly arrested by the off-duty policeman he had tried to hold up

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to stop

to bring (something) to a standstill cryogenics is based on the idea that extreme cold can almost arrest molecular motion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to fascinate

to hold the attention of as if by a spell the sight of the daredevil walking a tightrope between high-rises arrested area pedestrians and motorists alike

Synonyms & Similar Words

arrest

2 of 2

noun

as in arrestment

the act of taking into one's control by authority of law there have been only two arrests for driving while intoxicated in the county in the last six months

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cessation

the stopping of a process or activity "hemostasis" is the technical term for arrest of bleeding

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of arrest

Verb

Michael David Butler, 44, was arrested and charged with manslaughter on Wednesday, July 1, the Harris County Sheriff's Office announced on social media. — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026 New Dawn operators also arrested David Collins and Tyrone Thomas, who authorities say are members of Chicago's Traveling Vice Lords criminal gang who were deeply involved in drug trafficking. — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026

Noun

Glazer reminded him of the presumption of innocence and told him not to discuss what happened during his arrest, only to speak privately with his attorney. — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 2 July 2026 Deputies served the warrant on Adrian Cruz and collected evidence that led to Cruz’s arrest on felony animal cruelty charges, authorities said. — Velvet Wu july 1, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for arrest

Recent Examples of Synonyms for arrest

Verb

The party has focused on driving down consumer costs, seizing on what polling shows is deep dissatisfaction about the economy and worries about affordability.

— Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who voted against the proposal in mid-June, voiced fears that the list of noncitizen voters would immediately be seized by federal immigration authorities.

— Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of seize

Verb

When there was a pause in the action, referee Raphael Claus stopped the match to look at VAR to determine whether Balogun committed a foul worthy of a red card.

— Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Making new friends isn’t something that has to stop at a certain point in your life.

— Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of stop

Verb

The Vesuvius disaster and its immense human toll continue to fascinate historians and the public millennia later.

— Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Denby, as a critic, was fascinated by the great dancer Vaslav Nijinsky, as much for his expressions as for his torso, arms, or legs.

— Cal Revely-Calder, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

Definition of fascinate

Noun

Freight rates rose rapidly in May as carriers added more fuel surcharges and general rate increases amid the war in Iran and near-cessation of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 30 June 2026
Now its people should rise up and demand a cessation of cruelty that threatens to paint another stain of shame on the legacy of this great nation.

— Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2026

Definition of cessation

Verb

In past years, Disneyland has halted the Anaheim resident deal before the official end of the promotion.

— Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 6 July 2026
In a March letter to the state, 11 board members called for the program to be halted, citing the risks of automatically renewing medicines that can have side effects or drug interactions.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026

Definition of halt

Verb

The country was playing in the World Cup for just the third time and the run enchanted a nation that is normally far more interested in hockey than the pitch.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Ideal for a wedding or black-tie gala, Hannah Bronfman’s twisty updo and face-framing tendrils are sure to enchant.

— Christina Perrier, InStyle, 2 July 2026

Definition of enchant

Browse Nearby Words

arrears

arrest

arrested

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Arrest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arrest. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of arrest

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on arrest

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes