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

That last risk is the most dangerous, since an error nobody catches becomes a decision the business acts on. —

Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026 The app provides instant feedback and catches pronunciation mistakes. —

Andrew R. Chow, Time, 26 May 2026 Whether someone catches every RuPaul's Drag Race callback or has no idea who Mario's brother Luigi is, the show still works. —

Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 May 2026 But every once in a while, the camera catches some gold. —

Zach Harper, New York Times, 22 May 2026 Rice, one of the team's better receivers with 156 catches his first three NFL seasons, has proven that he cannot be trusted to stay out of trouble. —

Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026 When the stock market sneezes, California state government catches pneumonia. —

Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026 If your nail catches deeply, the scratch may be too severe for an at-home repair. —

Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 17 May 2026 The name catches your eye and your interest is piqued. —

Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2026

Noun

Junior right fielder Logan Finch, who made two key catches in the Trojans’ victory against Bishop Noll in the sectional semifinals, likes what Phillips brings to the table. —

Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2026 More wide-open catches followed. —

Cam Inman, Mercury News, 4 June 2026 Here is a look at some of the biggest North American catfish ever caught, along with a few other notable catches, as recorded by the International Gamefish Association. —

Ken Perrotte, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026 The distinction between smaller personal use versus high commercial volume is significant, and reporting catches helps maintain and track marine-life population. —

Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026 During the Steelers’ 30-6 loss in the wild-card round, Porter was one of the few bright spots, limiting Collins to three catches for 21 yards before a concussion knocked him out of the game late in the third quarter. —

Mike Defabo, New York Times, 3 June 2026 The 28-year-old Aiyuk has 294 catches for 4,305 yards and 25 TDs since being drafted in the first round in 2020. —

ABC News, 3 June 2026 Franklin can fly and his production jumped last fall from 28 catches, 265 yards and a pair of touchdowns as a 2024 rookie to 65, 729 and six, respectively. —

Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 3 June 2026 Worthy made two dynamic catches in three plays for touchdowns during red-zone 7-on-7 work with Mahomes. —

Pete Sweeney may 28, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for catches

Verb

Kennedy then pins the snake’s head and grabs it by the mouth, avoiding any potential venomous bites.

— Drew Pittock, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Davis grabs two suitcases off the belt, pulls out a handheld computer that looks like an extra-rugged iPad, and scans the bar codes on the luggage tags.

— Joel Rose, NPR, 26 May 2026