snatching 1 of 2

noun

as in theft
an instance of theft an industry in which the snatching of trade secrets is greatly feared

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snatching

2 of 2

verb

present participle of snatch
as in grabbing
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly the brazen seagull snatched the french fry right from my hand

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 snatching
Noun
Phone snatching is a major threat in Brazil and in many other places around the world, including London and Barcelona. — Joel Balsam, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2026 During 2024, at the height of the phone snatching trend, there were 80,000 such offenses across London. — Emmet Lyons, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 Marc Horowitz, 53, is charged with robbery by sudden snatching and domestic violence battery, records show. — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026 An informant would tell them the attack was rooted in a chain-snatching at the Lakewood Mall two months earlier. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026 Many Londoners have firsthand experience of phone-snatching or have witnessed a surge in shoplifting and subway fare-dodging. — ABC News, 23 July 2026 Over the years, several polls have been marred by voter intimidation, the snatching of ballot boxes, and post-election violence. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 6 July 2026 Former Kansas City Councilwoman Joanne Collins was 89 when she was dragged to the ground during a March 2025 purse snatching. — Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026 Schuman now faces a felony count of robbery by sudden snatching in addition to three misdemeanors — one count of battery, one count of petit theft and one count of criminal mischief, court records show. — Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 13 May 2026
Verb
Running around snatching pythons out of the jungle isn't my idea of fun, but someone has to do it. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026 Freiburg took advantage of Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich drawing to move top, snatching the win over Schalke with a late goal despite having Yuito Suzuki sent off for a second yellow card in the 64th. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026 This speed can be boosted in systems like NGC 362D, in which a neutron star is snatching material from a donor star because that material carries with it angular momentum. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Not just college kids, but Others cheering for Texas’ football team and snatching up Texas’ degrees. — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026 London — Images of masked men riding along London's streets on mopeds or electric bikes and snatching phones straight out of the hand of unsuspecting tourists and locals have gone viral in recent years. — Emmet Lyons, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 The first one from the 1980s saw an entity known as the Beyonder snatching heroes and villains from across realities to duke it out on a Hunger Games-style planet called Battleworld. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Sep. 2026 CEOs have been warning professionals that AI won’t take their jobs—it’ll actually be their tech-savvy coworkers snatching up opportunities. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 Lately Becker has been snatching up vintage Lalique pieces that, in this setting, have the frosty haze of sea glass. — Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 21 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snatching
  1. theft
  2. grabbing
  3. grab
  4. catching
  5. seizing
Noun
  • The charges against Strange arose after studio employees alerted the FBI of the theft in January 2025, alleging the unfinished releases were shared to a number of online platforms.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The economic impact of business vandalism in France extends the economic consequences of retail theft.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of theft
Verb
  • Over recent years, ambitious and headline-grabbing solutions to transportation problems have been unveiled in South Florida, from vertical jet ports to autonomous vehicles.
    — Sofia Zarran, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Bailey kicked off the Lakers’ opening night by matching her powerful voice with an equally attention-grabbing shoe.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of grabbing
Noun
  • The Dolphins scored on their first two drives of the game, with Willis finding rookie Caleb Douglas, who missed the last few games due to injury, for a seven-yard touchdown grab to kick off the scoring in this one.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • There are also some grab-and-go snacks available for purchase in the living/reception area.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of grab
Verb
  • Peltola is a gun-owning, fish-catching Alaska-bush native, who has worked for mines and supports oil drilling, and is allied with the state’s largest labor unions.
    — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
  • But for audiences outside North America, catching Nathan Fielder’s three-hour documentary about disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes — now expected to be a major player in awards season — has become a frustrating waiting game.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of catching
Verb
  • Banks in New York are seizing the opportunity to offer a solution that could shield Chinese customers from their country's tax man.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Even rarer is a series seizing on the opportunity to make a quantum leap several years into its run.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of seizing

Browse Nearby Words

snatches
snatching
snazzy
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Cite this Entry

“Snatching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snatching. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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