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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
This edition upset the Flames in the first round, winning Game 7 in double OT to capture the series despite being outscored 35-26. Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 Pictures from History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images The Vietnam War came to an end on April 30, 1975, when North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam. Npr Staff, NPR, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
The confrontation triggered a key turning point for Andor who narrowly escaped capture but emerged fully committed to the rebellion. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025 Caro Quintero, who at one point topped the FBI’s list of most wanted fugitives, was arrested in Mexico in a dramatic 2022 capture. John Annese, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for capture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capture
Verb
  • The jackpot was the largest prize ever won in the history of Kentucky.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA Today, 3 May 2025
  • Baffert, one of only two trainers to ever win the coveted Triple Crown on two occasions, became considered by some an outcast in the horse racing community following the fallout of Medina Spirit’s Kentucky Derby victory in 2021.
    Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • The game ended appropriately with Minnesota’s Naz Reid grabbing an offensive rebound off a Timberwolves missed free throw attempt and hugging the ball like Minnesota hugged this victory.
    Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025
  • Marsh male warbler simultaneously serenades its partner while grabbing a quick snack.
    Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • The three remaining federal death row prisoners whose sentences Biden didn't commute are all challenging their cases.
    Kristin Wright, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025
  • It is tasked with a broad range of actions — hunting fugitives, transporting federal prisoners and managing goods seized from criminals.
    Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Brunson earned 70 first-place votes, 24 second-place votes, and four votes for third place, hauling in 426 points — 114 more than three-time MVP, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The only pairs that earned our seal of approval were durable enough to stand up to sweat, secure enough to wear while sprinting, and safe enough to run with outdoors.
    Jennifer Heimlich, SELF, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2025
  • The alleged thieves were caught and their trial began this week.
    Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said at a March press conference that homeowners had gained $4.6 billion from 2014 to 2023.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Leonard gained the zone and found Anthony Beauvillier for a one-time pass to Strome alone in the slot.
    Arpon Basu, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Attackers could seize on the pattern by identifying nonexistent packages that are repeatedly hallucinated.
    Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Officials seized less than 50 pounds of fentanyl along the U.S. northern border in the 2024 fiscal year, according to the AP, citing U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) data.
    Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Tech-forward companies are reaping early benefits—higher productivity, smarter operations, stronger margins—while slower adopters struggle to convert ambition into outcomes.
    Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Peptide serums have become a mainstay of skin-care routines for their ability to repair and improve skin—but why should your face exclusively reap those rewards?
    Emily Orofino, Vogue, 14 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Capture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capture. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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