grab bag

noun

1

: a receptacle (such as a bag) containing small articles which are to be drawn (as at a party or fair) without being seen

2

: a miscellaneous collection : potpourri

Synonyms of grab bag

• variety
• assortment
• medley
• jumble
• collage
• mixed bag
• blend

Examples of grab bag in a Sentence

Congress has proposed a grab bag of tax cuts.

the festival featured a grab bag of independent films from widely disparate genres

Recent Examples on the Web

The day includes a delicious gourmet luncheon provided by White House Catering, vying for one of the $20 grab bags available that day and chances to bid on memorable experiences during the live auction. —Sharon Hlapcich, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026

In the decades since, multiple presidents have relied on that congressional mandate to justify a grab bag of military counterterrorism activities, including the detention of people who had not been convicted of a crime at Guantanamo Bay and the secret wiretapping of Americans. —Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026

Hello and welcome to the newsletter, a grab bag of daily content from the Odd Lots universe. —Joe Weisenthal, Bloomberg, 12 Feb. 2026

Generic generative AI is a grab bag. —Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for grab bag

• airbag
• handbag
• ragtag
• sandbag
• ag
• brag
• dag
• drag
• flag
• gag
• hag
• hagg