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

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

Yet moderation could not save the party’s leaders from being caught in the dragnet as China tightened its control over Hong Kong. —Tiffany May, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025

Last month, ProPublica detailed how Americans have been caught in the administration’s dragnet. —Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 14 Apr. 2025

Image Some of the Hamptons’ wealthier residents have begun raising money for lawyers to help immigrants avoid an ICE dragnet. —Dionne Searcey, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for dragnet

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• beset
• brevet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette

Kids 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