grab bag

noun

Synonyms of grab bagnext
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

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
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The artists share the 1970s complex with a typical grab bag of Little Havana enterprises catering to a mostly Central American immigrant community — notaries and tax preparers, a dentist, a hair salon, a barber shop, a convenience store, even a storefront Evangelical church. Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2026 In the package was a grab bag of small pleasures to ease the difficulty of a lengthy deployment – Kind bars, candy, homemade fudge, Girl Scout cookies, puzzle books, pencils, pens, decks of cards and other games. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026 On his seventh solo album, the British singer-songwriter pairs a grab bag of styles—synth-pop balladry, deep house, a Rolling Stones cover—with clearheaded lyrical introspection. Molly Mary O’Brien, Pitchfork, 14 Mar. 2026 Hello and welcome to the newsletter, a grab bag of daily content from the Odd Lots universe. Tracy Alloway, Bloomberg, 11 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grab bag

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grab bag was in 1855

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Cite this Entry

“Grab bag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grab%20bag. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.

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