grab 1 of 2

grab

2 of 2

noun

as in theft
an instance of theft a political activist who thinks the government's lease of public lands to logging companies amounts to an illegal land grab

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word grab different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of grab are clutch, grasp, seize, snatch, and take. While all these words mean "to get hold of by or as if by catching up with the hand," grab implies more roughness or rudeness than snatch.

grabbed roughly by the arm

When can clutch be used instead of grab?

Although the words clutch and grab have much in common, clutch suggests avidity or anxiety in seizing or grasping and may imply less success in holding.

clutching her purse

In what contexts can grasp take the place of grab?

In some situations, the words grasp and grab are roughly equivalent. However, grasp stresses a laying hold so as to have firmly in possession.

grasp the handle and pull

Where would seize be a reasonable alternative to grab?

The words seize and grab can be used in similar contexts, but seize implies a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of something tangible or an apprehending of something fleeting or elusive when intangible.

seized the suspect

How do snatch and seize relate to one another, in the sense of grab?

Snatch suggests more suddenness or quickness but less force than seize.

snatched a doughnut and ran

When could take be used to replace grab?

The words take and grab are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, take is a general term applicable to any manner of getting something into one's possession or control.

take some salad from the bowl

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 grab
Verb
The game ended appropriately with Minnesota’s Naz Reid grabbing an offensive rebound off a Timberwolves missed free throw attempt and hugging the ball like Minnesota hugged this victory. Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025 King got a boost toward possibly finishing six innings when Machado made a fantastic play on a grounder by Willy Adames, diving into the hole to grab the ball and, from his rear, throwing out Yastrzemski at second. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
Some legal scholars interviewed by The Hill described the orders as a power grab. Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025 Customers are up for grabs, ready to leave a brand over one bad experience. Tomas Gorny, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grab
Verb
  • Before Amber could join her brother, according to one witness, a man in a black pick-up truck pulled into the parking lot, snatched Amber off her bicycle and took off.
    Emily Krauser, People.com, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Then there is, in Walker’s view, the holy grail of art crime: The 13 works, including paintings by Rembrandt, Édouard Manet and Edgar Degas, snatched from Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in a notorious 1990 heist.
    Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • At the time of Landers’ death, Perry was wanted on an arrest warrant for missing court on a retail theft charge, according to court records.
    William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Prosecutors have charged the teen with two counts of first-degree homicide, as well as identity theft and other theft charges.
    A.C. Thompson, ProPublica, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Attackers could seize on the pattern by identifying nonexistent packages that are repeatedly hallucinated.
    Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Officials seized less than 50 pounds of fentanyl along the U.S. northern border in the 2024 fiscal year, according to the AP, citing U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) data.
    Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2025
  • On March 27, U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, announced that some 300 international students already have had their visas revoked this year, caught in the crosshairs of the attacks on political dissent, noncitizens, and higher education.
    Susan Thomas, Time, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Otherwise, a ton of talented players got to achieve their dreams this weekend.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025
  • After the performances are over and this year's inductees are revealed, viewers will get the chance to vote for their favorite contestants before eliminations.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • From a group of playful otters vying over a fresh fish to weeping plum trees glistening in the rain, the winners of a National Geographic contest open to amateur photographers have captured the diversity and beauty of Earth.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • The documentary combines personal testimony with real-time footage and poetic reflection to capture life amid destruction.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The project also landed Love a commission from Brooklyn wine bar Lise + Vito.
    Nora Taylor, Curbed, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The dispute immediately landed in court — a fight that represents a high-stakes case study for California, which also has statutes permitting transgender athletes in women’s sports.
    Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Take this massive sale event as a sign to snag a new accent cabinet like this style from Kelly Clarkson Home, or a convertible sofa that’s a game changer for small spaces.
    Ali Faccenda, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • The Texans were able to snag him in the third round, and many mocks had the receiver going at the beginning of the second.
    Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grab. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on grab

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