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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
The documentary pulled back the curtain on one of Taylor Swift's most vulnerable chapters, capturing her reckoning with fame, body image issues and the pressure to please everyone, while also embracing her voice in LGBTQ+ advocacy and confronting online toxicity. Bryan West, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025 The deal will be announced here in Cannes at MIPCOM and captures the zeitgeist as the market organizers lean heavily into the world of creators. Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
Save your capture as a PNG or JPG, or copy it to your clipboard for quick pasting. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025 For example, people usually have to physically retype data from electronic health records (EHR) into a different system for clinical trials, called the electronic data capture. Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for capture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capture
Verb
  • Not only did his son create the groundbreaking and award-winning theater production, but the musical also shares a special connection to the beginnings of his relationship with his wife, Luz Towns-Miranda.
    Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Two-time All Pro linebacker James Harrison led a fierce Pittsburgh Steelers defense for years, winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2008.
    Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In grabbing McNeeley in the same class as Knueppel, Sion James and Ryan Kalkbrenner, Charlotte wanted to infuse its roster with youthful players boasting an old school mentality.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2025
  • If her vibe is all about being cute yet comfy, grab the matching shorts for extra brownie points.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Glamour, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • As part of the ceasefire, Hamas released the remaining 20 living hostages held in Gaza, while Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Trump’s victory lap came as hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel returned home.
    Ben Smith, semafor.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The starters in those games combined for 3 1/3 innings and 10 runs (six earned) allowed.
    Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Anyone who gets into that position has definitely earned it.
    Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • On Monday, of course, the problem wasn’t Durbin getting caught stealing.
    Andy McCullough, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2025
  • One that frequently catches my attention is meaning, or purpose.
    Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Over the last two decades of accelerating digital politics, commentators are constantly pausing to observe that one party seems to have gained a permanent edge.
    Ben Smith, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Triumph Financial gained more than 2% in thin trading.
    Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Unified Government can seize someone’s home in this way if the residents don’t pay all their property taxes for three years.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Leveraging geopolitical insights allows businesses to build resilient partnerships and seize emerging opportunities before rivals.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Grays were generally intellectual tech elites who would reap the fruits of technological progress.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Outside of the Kendrick of it all, two of hip-hop’s leading ladies are also likely to reap bids in this category.
    Kyle Denis, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Capture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capture. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on capture

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