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capture

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noun

as in prisoner
one that has been taken and held in confinement a Spanish treasure ship was the most valuable capture ever taken by that privateer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb capture contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of capture are bag, catch, ensnare, entrap, snare, and trap. While all these words mean "to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing," capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.

capture an enemy stronghold

In what contexts can bag take the place of capture?

In some situations, the words bag and capture are roughly equivalent. However, bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.

bagged a brace of pheasants

When is catch a more appropriate choice than capture?

The words catch and capture are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding.

caught the dog as it ran by

How do entrap and ensnare relate to one another, in the sense of capture?

Both entrap and ensnare more often are figurative.

entrapped the witness with a trick question
a sting operation that ensnared burglars

How is trap related to other words for capture?

Trap, snare, entrap, and ensnare imply seizing by some device that holds the one caught at the mercy of the captor. Trap and snare apply more commonly to physical seizing.

trap animals
snared butterflies with a net

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of capture
Verb
Wrigley Field Photos capture Jelly Roll and Post Malone at Wrigley Field. Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2025 The First Amendment Coalition legal director said he was not sold on the idea that the city should protect the identity of people in public captured on the drone footage by blurring their faces. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
Noun
Shift its purpose from operational reflection to insight capture. Rhea Wessel, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025 More information on Moody's capture wasn't immediately released. Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for capture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capture
Verb
  • His administration won significant backing from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
    Tom Perry, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • Rory McIlroy is the favorite after winning The Masters.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Combs returns to the scene shortly thereafter and appears to grab at the phone.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 14 May 2025
  • The Pineapple Express actress allegedly grabbed and struck van Ree's arm in an altercation at a Seattle airport.
    Alex Gurley, People.com, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • The negotiations resulted in an agreement for a large prisoner swap but not a cease-fire.
    Liubov Sholudko, New York Times, 20 May 2025
  • The Vatican has continued to seek to help facilitate the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russia and the Holy See has been able to mediate some prisoner exchanges.
    Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • Felton pitched three innings, earning her 14th win of the season.
    Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2025
  • The Los Angeles Sparks earned the second-most votes for their pairing of Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson, and the Wings received votes after the addition of No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • Financial services leaders are thus caught in a paradox.
    Kathleen Walch, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Alaska’s history as a literal and figurative bridge between not only the Americas and Asia but also between Europe and Asia will gain prominence with climate change.
    Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
  • Another summit priority is economic cooperation, where Britain may have benefits to gain.
    Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • Officials with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms conducted a search at Ross’ home in Oklahoma and seized materials that were used to build the explosive devices, police said.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2025
  • Israel imposed a blockade on all supplies entering Gaza in March, saying Hamas was seizing supplies meant for civilians - a charge the group denies.
    Nidal al-Mughrabi, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • More recently, the British engineering giant has reaped even bigger awards, securing a £1 billion investment from Qatar to accelerate its development of climate-friendly technologies.
    Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
  • For now, Ratcliffe’s arrival has provided an opportunity for the Glazers to step back from the day-to-day, shuffle slightly out of the spotlight, pocket a cool $151.5m each, and see whether a different hand at the tiller could reap better results on and off the pitch.
    Adam Crafton, New York Times, 12 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Capture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capture. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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