1
as in infectious
capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another
a cold is often catching before the symptoms even begin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spreading
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others
a catching smile that instantly puts patients at ease
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in grabbing
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in getting
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
3
as in stopping
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
4
as in securing
to put securely in place or in a desired position
caught back her hair with a barrette
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in knowing
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
6
as in tricking
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
7
as in encountering
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
8
as in noticing
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
9
as in chasing
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of catching
Kansas City Star, 18 Mar. 2026
Teel and Edgar Quero had been in line to handle a bulk of the catching duties this season, with Lee another option.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
Schlittler last visited Fenway in May, catching a Red Sox night game after making an early start for the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for catching
Adjective
He’s worn special catching gear to celebrate his heritage.
—Kansas City Star, 18 Mar. 2026
Teel and Edgar Quero had been in line to handle a bulk of the catching duties this season, with Lee another option.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
Parker Guinn, who was hired by Breslow as a catching instructor after the 2024 season, remains as well.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
Schlittler last visited Fenway in May, catching a Red Sox night game after making an early start for the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for catching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catching
Adjective
-
Larsson turned into something of a supernova for virality, whether for her vocal anti-Trump politics, her glittery Y2K style, or her infectious tour choreography.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
-
Having Certain Health Conditions Several health conditions, including hormonal, nervous, infectious, and immune system disorders, can cause a dry mouth.—
Colleen Doherty,
Verywell Health,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Other complaints had to do with the Puerto Rican rap star grabbing his crotch, and with two dancers who allegedly grabbed each other's breasts (which, if true, is a wild dance move).—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
-
Particularly since the savings made in service-staff costs and brick-and-mortar bar space, not to mention the affordability of buying booze here in China's RMB currency, aren't that far off grabbing a can or bottle from a nearby 24-hour convenience store.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The Dark Knight’s wheels are getting a winter upgrade.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
8 May 2026
-
And second, our views of the future tend to be dark, and seem to be getting darker.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
That led many to believe that, while treatments and crisis care are vital, the goal of suicide prevention needs to expand beyond stopping people from dying to also giving them reasons to live.—
Aneri Pattani,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Bain walked purposefully, never slowing, never stopping — not even to size himself up in his new Bucs hat in the mirror — before striding onstage for a hug with the commissioner.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That map would have cut up Indianapolis into four new districts, securing a Republican edge.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
-
Schneider also made sure to draft a running back high last month, securing Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price with the last pick of the first round.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Raman and Pratt are right in deeming Bass the old guard of a beat-up city — but the old guard didn’t get there without knowing how to win.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
Instead, Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division did little to confront the problem despite knowing about it for years, an investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Associated Press and FRONTLINE (PBS) has found.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
This method involves tricking an employee or person with elevated access into giving up their password.—
Marybel Rodriguez,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
-
Instead of acting independently, the forces influence one another to amplify the ion’s motion, thereby tricking the system into generating a much stronger, more complex interaction than either force could achieve alone.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Across New York, students are already encountering hate.—
Samantha Hirsch,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Something that really drove me nuts in art history was encountering people who felt like what their job was to exercise taste.—
Lilyanna D'Amato,
ARTnews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Catching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catching. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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