dragnet
noun
drag·net
ˈdrag-ˌnet 
1
a
: a net drawn along the bottom of a body of water
b
: a net used on the ground (as to capture small game)
2
: a network of measures for apprehension (as of criminals)
Examples of dragnet in a Sentence
Nine suspects were caught in the police dragnet.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hayat Tahrir al Sham has run dragnets to pick up those unwilling to surrender.
—
Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025
Most of the United Irishmen’s leaders, including Fitzgerald, were arrested or killed in the dragnet.
—Joseph Patrick Kelly, The Conversation, 20 May 2025
Biking advocates say that the draconian crackdown was done without any public notice and that pedal bike riders are being swept up in this unprecedented dragnet.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 16 May 2025
His calls for compassion did not protect him from President Trump’s widening dragnet against pro-Palestinian student organizers on campus.
—Anvee Bhutani, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dragnet
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Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025
Most of the United Irishmen’s leaders, including Fitzgerald, were arrested or killed in the dragnet.
—Joseph Patrick Kelly, The Conversation, 20 May 2025
Biking advocates say that the draconian crackdown was done without any public notice and that pedal bike riders are being swept up in this unprecedented dragnet.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 16 May 2025
His calls for compassion did not protect him from President Trump’s widening dragnet against pro-Palestinian student organizers on campus.
—Anvee Bhutani, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dragnet
Cite this Entry
“Dragnet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dragnet. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dragnet
noun
drag·net
ˈdrag-ˌnet
1
: a net dragged along the bottom of a body of water
2
: a series of planned actions for catching a criminal
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