CATCHES Synonyms: 442 Similar and Opposite Words

catches 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of catch

as in grabs

to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly we tried to catch the kitten before she could sneak out the door

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as in gets

to become affected with (a disease or disorder) you'll catch the flu for sure if you don't get a shot

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as in stops

to bring (something) to a standstill I caught myself just as I was about to step into the freshly poured concrete

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as in secures

to put securely in place or in a desired position caught back her hair with a barrette

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as in knows

to have a clear idea of I didn't catch the point you were making about our nation's foreign policy

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as in deceives

to cause to believe what is untrue a number of media outlets were caught by the woman's hard-luck story

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as in encounters

to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face I'll catch you at the library tomorrow

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as in notices

to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes I looked out the window just in time to catch the neighbor's dog digging up my flower bed

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as in overtakes

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

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falls short

catches

2 of 2

noun

plural of catch

as in hitches

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

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as in prizes

someone or something unusually desirable everyone thought the captain of the football team was a real catch

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as in yields

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

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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 catches

Verb

The 27-year-old Kmet primarily played in-line (62%) in 2025, but has demonstrated slot production in three straight years of 50-plus catches from 2021 to 2023. —

Luca Evans, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026 The critical detail that catches many retirees off guard is the two-year lookback. —

Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2026 The offense shifted primarily to the Lamb-Pickens show with the latter having a career year (93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns) en route to his first Pro Bowl appearance. —

Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026 This is partly because social media feeds often have no end, so users continuously scroll to get to the next thing that catches their attention—and the next after that. —

Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 24 Mar. 2026 As these tools become more integrated into everyday radiology practice, a scan that answers the question it was asked and also catches something else worth knowing becomes less of an aspiration and more of a realistic near-term goal. —

Peter Gunderman, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026 The full force of cinema is felt not only in an outstanding sound design, notable in the wondrous opening sequence which catches the cacophony of Mexico’s stunning Oyamel fir forest at dawn. —

John Hopewell, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026 In the novel, Quirke follows a trail starting with the dead young woman of the title, and some shady behavior by his own brother, Malachy, a local obstetrician, who Quirke catches changing the cause of death. —

John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026 Spurs forward Carter Bryant catches the ball in the corner with the pass coming above his shoulders and a Detroit defender closing fast. —

John Hollinger, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026

Noun

Tolbert’s career numbers – 91 catches, 1,093 yards and 10 touchdowns — bear the weight of sharing the field with greatness. —

Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026 In his rookie season in New York, Moore had 43 catches for 538 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games. —

Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026 In the Seahawks’ 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC championship game, Smith-Njigba had 10 catches for 153 yards receiving and a touchdown. —

Dallas Morning News, 23 Mar. 2026 Meanwhile, his catches (65, good for 39th), receiving yards (709, good for 46th) and TD receptions (six, tied for 26th) all ranked among the league’s top 50 last fall. —

Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 21 Mar. 2026 On the season, Brown logged 49 catches for 587 yards and five touchdowns. —

Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2026 While school administrators may consider a sales tax more friendly than a hike in property taxes, there are several catches. —

Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026 Holani, in those two games, had four catches for 34 yards and generated two first downs. —

Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for catches

Verb

Chibale grabs a chemistry book off the shelf in his office and riffles through a parade of molecules — each one like an old friend.

— Ari Daniel, NPR, 22 Mar. 2026
Afterward the man with the shotgun points it inside the truck’s cabin and the passenger grabs its barrel, the video shows.

— Dennis Romero, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2026