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
Muddy data From 2021 to 2023, chains rallied public attention to soaring levels of theft and groups bursting into stores and grabbing shelves full of merchandise. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025 Marlowe, lounging behind Frizer, grabbed Frizer’s dagger and struck him in the head; Frizer snatched it back and returned the compliment. Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
Still up for grabs is the chance to be the first president to win an Oscar. Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025 That role was still up for grabs as of Thursday. Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grab
Verb
  • After some initial snags—customers receiving duplicate cards, criminals snatching unclaimed ones out of mailboxes—the cards began to turn a profit.
    Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Local leaders claim immigrants are wrongfully being snatched off the street by federal agents looking to root out violent criminals.
    Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • American officials have alleged that North Korea is engaged in a long-running effort to use cyberattacks, cryptocurrency theft and IT contractors to gather information on behalf of the government in Pyongyang.
    Nino Paoli, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Young Peter survived by theft and by begging.
    John Blake, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Leaders must continuously renew and reinvent their strategies to seize opportunities and stay ahead of the curve.
    Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • With each load seized, the cartel would take another bite off its own tail.
    Martin Suarez, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But the chick-snatching wasn't all terror and crib robbery, Parker stressed.
    Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Now, the Bears are close to catching back up, as the score is 27-24 at the time of this writing.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • In February, more than 40 people were killed in southern Mexico when a bus traveling to Tabasco from the tourist city of Cancun hit a trailer truck and caught fire.
    Lizbeth Diaz, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The company argues that the traffic which sites do manage to get from users now comes from users who are more engaged and thus more valuable.
    Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Ahead of the premiere of her new Netflix series, Too Much, written for her by Lena Dunham, the 33-year-old reflects on what got her to this moment.
    Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Police finally managed to capture Phillips after laying down spikes for his quad bike to run over after he was suspected of a burglary at a commercial address in Piopio.
    Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
  • By combining co-creation, creator signals, and data systems, the company has built an engine for capturing information at scale and acting on it faster than rivals.
    Jamie Gutfreund, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That’s why an unpolished moment on a stage as big as the Emmys lands harder than expected.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Indonesia has submitted films since 1987 but has yet to land a nomination in the category, previously known as best foreign language film.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grab. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on grab

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