as in snatching
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
don't grab my arm like that
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Recent Examples of grabbing
The Jaguars used their first pick of the NFL draft to land the blocking tight end Friday night, grabbing him in the second round with the 56th selection.
—
Mark Long, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
The Seahawks stayed put yet again at the end of the second round, grabbing TCU safety Bud Clark with the 64th pick.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The Celtics shot 43% from deep in the first half while also attempting more field goals and grabbing more rebounds than the 76ers.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Moore’s celebration was delayed, as his immediate reaction was grabbing at his bloodied mouth.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
With a few notable exceptions, Leo kept his political remarks to the leaders largely diplomatic, using a language of encouragement and subtle messaging rather than headline-grabbing condemnations.
—Nicole Winfield The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 24 Apr. 2026
And then having a fight, grabbing a couple of the girls, and going back and having a great time.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026
With a few notable exceptions, Leo kept his political remarks to the leaders largely diplomatic, using a language of encouragement and subtle messaging rather than headline-grabbing condemnations.
—Nicole Winfield, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
The pair was most recently spotted sharing a kiss and holding hands in Los Angeles’ Los Feliz neighborhood on April 3, and grabbing coffees on April 5.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Mark Long, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
The Seahawks stayed put yet again at the end of the second round, grabbing TCU safety Bud Clark with the 64th pick.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The Celtics shot 43% from deep in the first half while also attempting more field goals and grabbing more rebounds than the 76ers.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Moore’s celebration was delayed, as his immediate reaction was grabbing at his bloodied mouth.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
With a few notable exceptions, Leo kept his political remarks to the leaders largely diplomatic, using a language of encouragement and subtle messaging rather than headline-grabbing condemnations.
—Nicole Winfield The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 24 Apr. 2026
And then having a fight, grabbing a couple of the girls, and going back and having a great time.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026
With a few notable exceptions, Leo kept his political remarks to the leaders largely diplomatic, using a language of encouragement and subtle messaging rather than headline-grabbing condemnations.
—Nicole Winfield, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
The pair was most recently spotted sharing a kiss and holding hands in Los Angeles’ Los Feliz neighborhood on April 3, and grabbing coffees on April 5.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grabbing
Verb
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The open-sea tactic mirrors what the US did when tracking down tankers linked to Venezuela earlier this year – before eventually snatching President Nicolás Maduro in a raid.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
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Anthony Davis is facing charges of robbery by sudden snatching with a firearm or weapon and resisting an officer without violence.—
Ana Maria Soler,
CBS News,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Road closures have been seizing the country’s leafy capital, as vans disgorge military style kit bags and American personnel to match at top hotels.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2026
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Human Rights Watch said authorities have taken sweeping steps to curb religious practice, including tearing down churches and crosses, blocking gatherings at unregistered churches and seizing religious materials not approved by the state.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Hatzinger did just that Monday, catching a two-hitter by best friend Adalynn Fugitt and providing support with her first career home run for the host Panthers in a 10-0 Southwest Prairie Conference win in five innings over crosstown rival Oswego East.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
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Schlittler last visited Fenway in May, catching a Red Sox night game after making an early start for the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On Thursday, April 16, 2026, jurors were shown surveillance footage and audio from inside Horner’s delivery truck, including portions capturing Athena’s final moments before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
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Neville took his cameras behind the scenes at 30 Rock’s Studio 8H during multiple production weeks, capturing the frenzy of pitch meetings, writing night, table reads and dress rehearsals.—
Rebecca Keegan,
NBC news,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Double-down on getting voters to the polls.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
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Going to a zone defense slowed Minnesota down further in the fourth, but the Nuggets weren’t generating the shots they’re used to getting automatically.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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An Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft prepares for landing as a smoke plume rises from an ongoing fire near Dubai International Airport in Dubai on March 16, 2026.—
Emma Graham,Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
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Hamilton described his version as landing somewhere between Senegalese and Ghanaian, cooked in a slurry of roasted red peppers, tomatoes and onions, delicately spiced and with a whisper of smoke.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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What’s the secret sauce for snagging him for a project?—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
23 Apr. 2026
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Dan Quinn takes the draft’s top cornerback by snagging Delane off the board to help a secondary that was somehow worse than the Cowboys’ pass defense a year ago.—
Nick Harris
April 20,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grabbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grabbing. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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