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

If a passenger catches a fish during an excursion, it must be shipped home. —

Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026 Two years after opening Smoke Queen Barbecue’s first brick-and-mortar location in Garden Grove, Winnie Yee, one of the country’s few female pitmasters, still sometimes catches herself looking around the restaurant in disbelief. —

Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 14 Apr. 2026 Alpha-gal syndrome is one that catches people off guard. —

Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Apr. 2026 Without much receiving tape, though (23 catches across three years), this would be too steep a price unless the Broncos could nab Wetjen late in Day Three. —

Luca Evans, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026 The nurse who catches the wrong transcription. —

Maria Noel Fernandez, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026 Novel experiences—firsts, surprises, anything that catches the brain off guard—are the moments most likely to stick. —

Jennifer Byrne, Popular Science, 8 Apr. 2026 The Lost Birds List catches those quiet disappearances. —

Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026 Technology exists to limit VPN workarounds; all licensed traditional sportsbooks deploy software that catches basic IP-masking tools to comply with state laws. —

Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 7 Apr. 2026

Noun

There were too many easy would-be catches that were dropped during the 2025 season. —

Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026 Outside of Wilson, no other receiver finished with more than 30 catches and two touchdowns for the Jets. —

Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2026 Overmyer had two solid seasons with the Roadrunners, combining for 58 catches, 627 yards and eight scores in 2024 and 2025. —

Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026 Born in Germany, Klein had 13 catches in 2024 and then 24 for 248 last year. —

Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2026 The restaurant celebrates the North Carolina shore through inventive dishes that utilize fresh catches from area fishermen and coastal foragers. —

Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2026 Quarterback Julian Lewis looked sharp early, throwing a 13-yard TD pass to Danny Scudero, the transfer from San Jose State who had 88 catches for 1,297 yards and 10 touchdowns a year ago. —

Pat Graham, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026 David Kundrat came into his senior season known mostly as a defensive specialist, praised by his Lockport coaches and teammates for the ability to chase balls down and make highlight-reel catches in center field. —

Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026 Young played five years of college football for three different teams (Lackawanna College, Miami and Georgia) and never totaled more than 47 catches, 563 yards or five touchdowns in a single season. —

Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 9 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for catches

Verb

Keep those rosary beads handy whenever Aaron Gordon grabs his hammy.

— Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026
Maya Hawke grabs her guitar and gets in front of the mic at the SiriusXM Studios in New York City on April 13.

— Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026