CATCHES Synonyms: 442 Similar and Opposite Words

catches 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of catch

as in grabs

to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly we tried to catch the kitten before she could sneak out the door

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in gets

to become affected with (a disease or disorder) you'll catch the flu for sure if you don't get a shot

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stops

to bring (something) to a standstill I caught myself just as I was about to step into the freshly poured concrete

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in secures

to put securely in place or in a desired position caught back her hair with a barrette

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in knows

to have a clear idea of I didn't catch the point you were making about our nation's foreign policy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in deceives

to cause to believe what is untrue a number of media outlets were caught by the woman's hard-luck story

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in encounters

to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face I'll catch you at the library tomorrow

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in notices

to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes I looked out the window just in time to catch the neighbor's dog digging up my flower bed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in overtakes

to move fast enough to get even with despite the suspect's considerable lead, the fleet-footed police officer was able to catch him and make an arrest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

falls short

catches

2 of 2

noun

plural of catch

as in hitches

a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized the catch is that you have to come up with the money by tomorrow

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in prizes

someone or something unusually desirable everyone thought the captain of the football team was a real catch

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in yields

the total amount collected or obtained especially at one time the total catch for our day at the creek was six fish and a crab

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 catches

Verb

Life and social structures in remote river villages are rooted in summer fish camps, where the community catches, processes, and preserves the salmon that feeds them through the winter. — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026 Participants step or jump off a platform more than 40 feet above the ground, experiencing a brief moment of free fall before the rope system catches them and slowly lowers them to the ground. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026 Both catches would happen at the company’s launch site in South Texas, Starbase. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026 Still, what Douglas managed to do in his first regular season NFL game — five catches for 94 yards, a mark that tied Tyreek Hill’s franchise record for the most receiving yards in a debut — has people in Miami Gardens salivating about his return. — Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026 But while goofing around in the Friend Store window, Klara catches the eye of teenage shopper Josie (Mia Tharia). — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026 Duce Robinson had a pair of touchdown catches late, including a 75-yarder that tied the game with less than three minutes left in regulation and a 20-yard score to open the first overtime. — Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 But then, Coach Jake Hudson (Steve Zahn), the Catfish’s head coach and Ricky’s father, catches them. — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026 Under the rules, a fan who catches a foul ball records an out. — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Noun

Caldwell finished with six catches for 108 yards and a pair of TDs. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026 Some species and some areas are worse off than others, but the general trend is bad, including for the state’s other two iconic seafood catches, halibut and crab. — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026 Kelce had a career day with 10 catches, a personal-best 191 yards and two touchdowns. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026 Bell, who has five catches for 92 yards in five games and three starts, has played only 34 snaps with Caleb Douglas, who’s due to return Sunday after missing three games with an ankle injury. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026 In 14 snaps against the Bulldogs, Favors recorded two catches for 27 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos’ 38-31 victory. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 22 Oct. 2026 Smith has been finding his top target, wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who has 35 catches for 418 yards and three touchdowns. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026 Gregory has piled up 1,275 yards and 13 TDs to go with four catches for 51 yards and a TD. — Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 Mallard has 831 yards receiving for 11 touchdowns on 35 catches. — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for catches

Verb

If anyone who is hired to MC one of the largest events in golf grabs a microphone and joins in on ‘f you’ chants directed at a player in the event you're being paid to be a part of, that person is undoubtedly being fired, regardless of gender.

— Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
The suspect runs inside, grabs rolls of lottery tickets, stuffs them into a bag and runs out.

— Tara Lynch, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of grabs

Verb

The Archimedes screw gets a molecular makeover The researchers took inspiration from the Archimedes’ screw, an ancient device with a helical blade inside a cylinder that lifts water (or solids) when rotated.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
The driver gets a 24-inch OLED screen, and there’s a smaller 7-inch infotainment screen in the centre.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of gets

Verb

The New Braunfels, Texas, resident kept a frenetic touring schedule, headlining major Texas venues and mid-sized dance halls around the country, with occasional arena or amphitheater stops opening for Koe Wetzel thrown in.

— Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2026
Nighttime mouth breathing is associated with snoring, dry mouth, receding gums and sleep apnea, a disorder in which breathing stops repeatedly during sleep.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of stops

Verb

The prince didn’t have any luck in blocking Kelce, which comes as little surprise given the Chiefs star knows how to avoid defensive players.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
Anyone who has worked at a fast-growing company at the edge of technology knows that obligations, circumstances and products change daily.

— Daniel Kjellén, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of knows

Verb

Here, the dream carries the true emotional weight, and the waking world is what deceives us.

— The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 15 Oct. 2026
The complaint also claims that the image deceives customers into thinking Lipa has endorsed the product and dilutes her brand identity.

— Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 11 May 2026

Definition of deceives

Verb

The Paul & Shark customer values the freedom to explore the world but doesn’t want to compromise on the sense of elegance that gives so many of life’s daily encounters their richness.

— Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 26 Oct. 2026
When Jay encounters a giant squid being chased by a mammoth sperm whale, he’s unwittingly entangled in the former’s tentacles and swallowed up in one extended, terrifying sequence.

— David Mack, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of encounters

Verb

Andrew Taylor-Parr, the image director for Comme des Garçons (who actually lives in the Barbican), notices the appeal of raw materials and strong form against the modern backdrop of visual noise and commercial polish.

— Alex Eagle, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
Officials urged anyone who notices suspicious signs of infestation to report them immediately.

— Kierra Frazier, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026