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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Gunn takes the vast canon of Superman lore — from various iterations of the comics to TV shows like Smallville to the Donner films — and treats it like a grab bag, plucking elements from many sources. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025 Becoming a mother now means confronting a grab bag of voices — on phone screens and on Reddit, but also at school pickup and church — that are critical of the medical establishment, including people skeptical about vaccines and fanatic about drinking raw milk. Emma Goldberg, New York Times, 1 June 2025 There are several methods for quantifying homelessness in San Diego County, encompassing a grab bag of methodologies that can be confusing for anyone not immersed in the crisis. Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2025 Modern college chaplains, deans, and directors of religious life have taken on a new grab bag of duties. Cornelia Powers, The Atlantic, 18 May 2025 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 13 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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