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
Don’t miss the moment, grabbing these Demarson Odell Hoop Earrings, whose 12-karat gold and rhodium twist around each other in a graceful harmony. Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025 Bearse grabbed her dog, called 911 and fled out the back door. Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
The result is Checkmate, which will be led by a grab-bag of characters from Peacemaker’s second season. Scott Meslow, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025 Even though the opposition providing material evidence that Gonzalez won the presidential vote, regional organizations like the Organization of American States have failed to take any significant steps to address Maduro’s power grab. Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grab
Verb
  • Established in 2017 as Fosun Fashion Group, the firm planted its flag in luxury fashion, snatching up its brands in a series of acquisitions and went public in a SPAC deal in December 2022 that raised more than $150 million.
    Evan Clark, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Trailing 2-0 in the second period, top-liners Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov scored for the Wild to forge a tie, only to see the Blue Jackets snatch the lead back and hold on.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The National Museum of the American Indian recalls how Indigenous peoples suffered theft, loss of their homelands, enslavement, death, forced displacement and disrupted cultural traditions due to European settlement.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 12 Oct. 2025
  • With theft rates reportedly climbing 93% in 2024, the push for high-tech security has never been stronger.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • According to Rolling Stone, Watkins was first arrested in September 2012 after police officers seized a large number of mobile phones and storage devices after conducting a drug search warrant at his home in Pontypridd, a town in Wales.
    Giana Levy, Variety, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Polymarket for its part has drawn in younger users with a better platform and by seizing upon the pandemic-era gambling trend especially prevalent in Gen Z men—not to mention with a little help from a newly friendly regulatory environment.
    Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But the chick-snatching wasn't all terror and crib robbery, Parker stressed.
    Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • On Monday, of course, the problem wasn’t Durbin getting caught stealing.
    Andy McCullough, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2025
  • One that frequently catches my attention is meaning, or purpose.
    Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Their speed means the drones can often get to a crime scene faster than an officer, the chief said.
    Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2025
  • But getting there may have been the easy part.
    Max Tani, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Swift later worked the record into her set, which was then captured for this release on the final date in Vancouver.
    Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2025
  • The film tracks her increasingly dangerous walk home, capturing the threats children face in public spaces.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Projected by some pundits to land higher in the draft, the 6-foot-7 big man’s fall was the Hornets’ gain.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2025
  • For the third time in a row, the booster will not return to the launch site, instead landing in the Gulf of Mexico, now renamed the Gulf of America, as SpaceX attempts to push its performance beyond what has been attempted.
    Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grab. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on grab

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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