1
as in seizes
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law
the inept robber was promptly arrested by the off-duty policeman he had tried to hold up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stops
to bring (something) to a standstill
cryogenics is based on the idea that extreme cold can almost arrest molecular motion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in enchants
to hold the attention of as if by a spell
the sight of the daredevil walking a tightrope between high-rises arrested area pedestrians and motorists alike
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in raids
the act of taking into one's control by authority of law
there have been only two arrests for driving while intoxicated in the county in the last six months
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cessations
the stopping of a process or activity
"hemostasis" is the technical term for arrest of bleeding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of arrests
Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
The horrid image in the news of a column of smoke rising above the city of Tehran — an abyss of darkness against the gray sky — arrests my attention.
—Babak Rahimi, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
The Department of Damage Control arrests Trevor.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
The sheer scale of an estate for sale in San Francisco’s tony Pacific Heights neighborhood — a residence spanning 26,000 square feet, or the equivalent of 10 average homes — arrests the imagination.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Bascombe is the one who arrests Jamie Miller (Cooper) under suspicion of murder.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Police officer Hugo Crussi (Vogrincic) traces the voice to a young preacher, Jonas Flores (Zurita), and arrests him.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Shianne Leclaire, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
Police and fans were injured in the melee, and several arrests were made.
—Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 16 May 2026
That’s the job of law enforcement, who make arrests, judges who sentence criminals to pay for their crimes, and a parole board that cares about public safety.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 15 May 2026
Investigators also made multiple drug arrests during traffic stops throughout the operation, including suspects accused of possessing methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and oxycodone.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
No arrests have been made and the investigation remains ongoing.
—Alyssa Dzikowski, CBS News, 15 May 2026
No arrests have been made in his death, and he was never charged in Young Dolph’s killing.
—ABC News, 15 May 2026
At that moment, Griffin looks up at Benson, lowers his weapon and arrests Caine.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
In Orlando, around 1,000 teenagers showed up to the Icon Park area on a Saturday night last month, spurring fights and a substantial police response that led to nine arrests on charges including battery on an officer, resisting arrest and trespassing.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
Verb
Devlin throws a punch at Stone when the chief arrests him for drunken driving.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
The horrid image in the news of a column of smoke rising above the city of Tehran — an abyss of darkness against the gray sky — arrests my attention.
—Babak Rahimi, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
The Department of Damage Control arrests Trevor.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
The sheer scale of an estate for sale in San Francisco’s tony Pacific Heights neighborhood — a residence spanning 26,000 square feet, or the equivalent of 10 average homes — arrests the imagination.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Bascombe is the one who arrests Jamie Miller (Cooper) under suspicion of murder.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Police officer Hugo Crussi (Vogrincic) traces the voice to a young preacher, Jonas Flores (Zurita), and arrests him.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
These are the services that reduce harm and support reintegration, unlike arrests that only deepen instability.
—Shianne Leclaire, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
Police and fans were injured in the melee, and several arrests were made.
—Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 16 May 2026
That’s the job of law enforcement, who make arrests, judges who sentence criminals to pay for their crimes, and a parole board that cares about public safety.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 15 May 2026
Investigators also made multiple drug arrests during traffic stops throughout the operation, including suspects accused of possessing methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and oxycodone.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
No arrests have been made and the investigation remains ongoing.
—Alyssa Dzikowski, CBS News, 15 May 2026
No arrests have been made in his death, and he was never charged in Young Dolph’s killing.
—ABC News, 15 May 2026
At that moment, Griffin looks up at Benson, lowers his weapon and arrests Caine.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
In Orlando, around 1,000 teenagers showed up to the Icon Park area on a Saturday night last month, spurring fights and a substantial police response that led to nine arrests on charges including battery on an officer, resisting arrest and trespassing.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arrests
Verb
-
Dean seizes the moment to confess his feelings for Allie, hoping to turn their friends-with-benefits arrangement into something more.—
Nasha Smith,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
-
The chef Brooks Headley seizes the day every day, showing us that vegetables are canny, capricious characters, capable of anything.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
This court order temporarily stops most collection activities, including lawsuits, wage garnishments, bank levies and collection calls.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
-
The team stops functioning as a unit and starts behaving as a collection of individuals.—
Rick Burton,
Sportico.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Ella has shades of Holly Hunter's intense, workaholic producer Jane from Brooks' 1987 masterpiece Broadcast News, the smartest person in any room who both exhausts and enchants everyone around her.—
Esther Zuckerman,
Time,
12 Dec. 2025
-
By bringing these three gestures together, Killam fashions a method that repairs, strengthens, and re-enchants the invisible social fabric that sustains us.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
27 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Several other concerns were raised during the roughly three-hour hearing, including questions about how to best protect visitors and participants from federal immigration raids.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
-
While those behind the recent maritime raids have yet to be identified, previous ship captures have often involved young Somalis from impoverished communities and armed extremists affiliated with global terror networks.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Temporary cessations of hostility, but no permanent closing of the moral and social divide between debtor and creditor, and no giving up on the thought that some lives matter more than others.—
Henry Freedland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Though the team immediately apprehends a suspect, the Marshals end up taking criticism from both sides.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Neighbors are now living in fear, looking on as ICE apprehends people of color across Minnesota.—
Jason Rantala,
CBS News,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As the federal government halts plans to address climate change, states, cities, regions, and even neighborhoods are trying to fill the gap by cutting climate pollution and adapting to extreme weather.—
Ellis Juhlin,
NPR,
18 May 2026
-
But Ho's order now halts that effective date.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
At the moment, Philadelphia fascinates me most, a Play-In team that has enough talent to make a run to the finals.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
Precious artifacts have been recently unearthed from the site that fascinates scholars worldwide.—
Sharon Chin,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arrests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arrests. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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