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
Brown caught a pass across the middle and landed awkwardly on his shoulder as he was brought to the ground. Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2025 Though they couldn’t be easily caught with traditional fishing gear, the silver carp could be scooped mid-leap with landing nets. Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
Each catch is good for a ticket that's entered into a monthly drawing for a $100 prize. Arkansas Online, 26 Aug. 2025 The former fourth-round pick appeared in just five games for the Dolphins over three seasons and had five catches for 22 yards and played just 57 offensive snaps. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for catch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch
Verb
  • And since Birkenstocks almost never go on sale, this is the time to grab a pair before the season shifts.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2025
  • When the fatigue threshold is hit, a generative AI model can automatically suggest a range of alternative creatives, using insights from predictive models to determine which assets are most likely to grab attention.
    Sergii Denysenko, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Tommy Fleetwood finally got the job done and won his first PGA Tour event.
    Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
  • The person who brought in the phone also told police about a DoorDash purchase of rubber gloves and garbage bags and a search history on the phone, such as how to get from Flint to Ohio, Bagiano testified.
    Christina Hall, Freep.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • People who experience severe allergic reactions may carry epinephrine autoinjectors, such as EpiPens, to stop anaphylaxis.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
  • And unless the lake stops being filled with recycled wastewater, Gufarotti said, the units will be running constantly for the foreseeable future, meaning ongoing maintenance and electricity costs.
    Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Though the mayor does not have a direct vote in the matter, Hogsett serves as the board chair of Indy Economic Development Inc., the entity tasked with securing economic investment in the city.
    Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Maintaining control of the House will be vital for Vance’s strategy of securing his own political standing by racking up wins for Trump.
    Francesca Chambers, The Enquirer, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In the event of your vehicle hydroplaning, here's what to know: Ease off the accelerator - Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 24 Aug. 2025
  • Several of the Jeep fans who spoke to the Free Press mentioned or knew of the recent contest FCA hosted to pick a Jeep Top Canine from thousands of entries.
    Eric D. Lawrence, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • All these attacks lead to fake sign-in pages that steal your password, and sometimes add an additional step to either trick you into sharing a 2FA code or to bypass the need for that 2FA code completely.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2025
  • Whereas in the past a lot of scams tried to trick you into giving out your financial account numbers, many now seek to persuade you to move your money from one of your accounts to another type of account the scammers can access.
    Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Another Buc-ee’s is proposed for DeForest, but that is encountering a different set of issues related to road improvements.
    Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • His argument was a version of one that Americans encounter every year, whether after hurricanes in Florida or after fires in Southern California.
    Daniel A. Gross, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Around 2016, Walker came up with the band name East Nash Grass, after noticing a surge of bluegrass music around the East Nashville area.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Americans have noticed that Democratic leaders are increasingly unhinged.
    Nicole Russell, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Catch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch. Accessed 1 Sep. 2025.

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