nab

verb

ˈnab How to pronounce nab (audio)
Definition of nabnext
1
as in to arrest
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law the officer nabbed the purse snatcher before he could escape

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly a pickpocket nabbed my wallet

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 nab His English-language debut took in $127 million at the global box office and was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including best screenplay and best picture, and nabbed four Oscars. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2026 Then the mob went in and nabbed the books out of the gift shop. — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026 That same month, criminals nabbed a $4 million diamond necklace from Vienna’s Museum of Applied Arts (MAK). — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026 Becker, who has a propensity for nabbing jump balls, played a key role in the Hoosiers' title run, including his six-catch, 126-yard performance against Ohio State last December. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nab
  1. arrest
  2. grab
  3. seize
  4. catch
  5. apprehend
  6. snatch
  7. detain
Verb
  • People in the country longer may have more opportunities to contest their removal while the government typically has greater authority to fast-track deportations for people arrested at the border.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In April, a US Army soldier was arrested and charged with using confidential information to make $410,000 in Polymarket bets on the timing of the military’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of arrest
Verb
  • Finally, grab 32% off the Eufy E340 Security Video Doorbell with Chime, providing dual 2K cameras and color night vision.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026
  • James scored 18 points, grabbed two rebounds and was a minus-22 going up against Paul Reed, and the 76ers were left to hope his presence at center was nothing more than a cameo.
    — Dan Gelston, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of grab
Verb
  • Experts worry federal law enforcement could potentially use those false claims — or others generated this year — as pretext to try to seize ballots during the counting period, or interfere in the process in some other way.
    — Miles Parks, NPR, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Those weaknesses could enable cybercriminals to seize control of unprotected website servers, install malware, pilfer customer data and even take sites down completely.
    — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of seize
Verb
  • SpaceX's confidence in its ability to catch both the Super Heavy and Ship stages has been building this year, following three launches so far in 2026.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In Minor Black Figures, Taylor casts a sharp gaze on the New York art scene through the eyes of Wyeth, a young Black painter caught in the throes of creative struggle.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of catch
Verb
  • He was apprehended and detained by police, according to court records.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • To date, the gang-fighting force has apprehended 26 people, including a minor who has been transferred to a special center; the others were handed over to Haitian authorities, per the protocol the force works under, within 48 hours of their arrest.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of apprehend
Verb
  • The footage shows a coyote getting some serious air in order to snatch a pear off a tree.
    — David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Wait for the rows in front of you to get up and head to the exit, rather than scrambling to snatch your items from the overhead bins and just crowding the aisle.
    — Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of snatch
Verb
  • Stephen Hubbard, 74, was sentenced to nearly seven years in a penal colony in 2024, after being detained in April 2022.
    — Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The legislation also calls for Atlanta and the Fulton County sheriff to negotiate a separate agreement covering how space and services will be shared, including housing people detained on municipal charges.
    — CBS News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of detain

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Cite this Entry

“Nab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nab. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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