catch 1 of 2

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as in to chase
to move fast enough to get even with despite the suspect's considerable lead, the fleet-footed police officer was able to catch him and make an arrest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

catch

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noun

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as in hitch
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized the catch is that you have to come up with the money by tomorrow

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in haul
the total amount collected or obtained especially at one time the total catch for our day at the creek was six fish and a crab

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb catch contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of catch are bag, capture, ensnare, entrap, snare, and trap. While all these words mean "to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing," catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding.

caught the dog as it ran by

Where would bag be a reasonable alternative to catch?

The words bag and catch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.

bagged a brace of pheasants

When is capture a more appropriate choice than catch?

While the synonyms capture and catch are close in meaning, capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.

capture an enemy stronghold

How are the words entrap and ensnare related as synonyms of catch?

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 catch?

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 catch
Verb
Harris, who lives three doors down from a unit that caught fire, said he was told that his unit appeared to only have cosmetic damage. Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 June 2025 Special teams and the crazy switching up of the D Pairs after the first two, very even games has been the story of the series so far for me A Andrew K. · 42m ago Maple Leafs catching strays. Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Noun
There’s a catch: Before the sale can go through, the company wants the Landmarks Preservation Commission to de-designate the building so that it can be torn down. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 27 June 2025 His 10th-inning diving catch saved a run in Sunday’s 3-2 win over the Pirates. Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for catch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch
Verb
  • One four-person crew in a 24-foot open-bow MasterCraft grabbed their life jackets, wisely abandoned the boat and swam to shore.
    George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2025
  • Watching robots like Barb and Peter grab your order in just seconds is pretty impressive, but what's even more remarkable is that this technology is already making shopping quicker, safer, and a whole lot easier.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • As New York closed in on Tuesday's vote, more investors got nervous as the polls showed Mamdani was leading.
    Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 26 June 2025
  • Daniels gets his guy Aiyuk, who's the younger, and potentially better receiver.
    Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Without any consequences, this autocratic politician will continue to push the limits of his authority beyond the breaking point until someone forces him to stop.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2025
  • The state will become the second following Utah to stop public utilities from fluoridating water.
    Kairi Lowery, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • The Logo concept was solid, Graden said, but the first roadblock the team faced was securing advertisers.
    Greta Cross, USA Today, 30 June 2025
  • Four documentary projects secured SEA-DOC funding, with three productions receiving S$30,000 ($23,512) each and one post-production project awarded S$20,000 ($15,675).
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • The Trump administration said the strikes destroyed Iran's nuclear infrastructure, but the full extent of the damage is not known.
    Sonam Sheth Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
  • Shahn was known as a social realist: a painter of hardscrabble life who registered every spasm and twitch of the body politic, from the Great Depression to Vietnam.
    Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • That was the crux of the latest Gmail attack, tricking users into sharing codes.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • But rather than trying to trick users into heading to a fake website, the visitor is instead taken to the brand's legitimate website, with a small but dangerous difference.
    Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 21 June 2025
Verb
  • Researchers with the organization scanned 700 miles of Lake Michigan using sonar technology and used models to recreate the weather patterns that Flight 2501 would have encountered the night of the crash.
    Toria Sheffield, People.com, 28 June 2025
  • On the other hand, drivers relying on an EV's full driving range in optimal conditions may encounter frustrating performance issues.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • The firemen noticed Pilon, but every time one of them tried to get beyond the protection of the trucks, Barbaro fired at them.
    Sally Ventura June 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
  • But once the group noticed that Ginny had already died and turned to a zombie, Maggie could not finish the job, and instead handed her knife to Negan to finish off the young girl.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 23 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Catch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

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