intercepts

verb

present tense third-person singular of intercept
as in grabs
to stop, seize, or interrupt while in progress or on course the cat was about to hightail it out the front door when I intercepted her

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 intercepts Russia intercepts most Ukrainian long-range drones but some have evaded Russian air defenses. — Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 27 June 2026 However, Azula intercepts the group and duels Aang and Katara with Zuko, who nearly had a change of heart after opening up to Katara. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 25 June 2026 Advertisement Breaking down the fight and its outcome When Sam intercepts them, Adam steps in to confront him, attempting to create time for Rosie and Grace to escape. — Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 21 Apr. 2026 The process intercepts industrial carbon emissions before they are released into the atmosphere and converts them into recycled fibers. — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 17 Apr. 2026 Kagan and his colleagues showed that within minutes, neurons on microchips could learn to play Pong, the classic video game in which a player repeatedly intercepts a ball—think two-dimensional ping-pong. — Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 28 Mar. 2026 The main street that intercepts the end of my block is tree-lined and buzzing, with generous sidewalks, gleaming (and respected) crosswalks, and wide windowscapes just begging to be strolled and observed. — Claire Salinda, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026 The following month, Iran fires nearly 200 missiles at Israel, which intercepts most of them but promises retaliation. — Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026 In a sleepy town, a switchboard operator and a radio DJ investigate a strange audio signal that intercepts the latter’s broadcast. — Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intercepts
  1. grabs
  2. blocks
  3. captures
  4. catches
Verb
  • What a thrilling end to this match as Spain grabs a late winner to beat Belgium, 2-1.
    — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
  • Once inside, she’s confronted by Tommy (James Eddie), who stupidly grabs her to escort her out.
    — William Earl, Variety, 2 July 2026
Definition of grabs
Verb
  • The Connected Vehicle Rule, finalized in 2025 under the Biden Administration, effectively blocks Polestar from selling cars in the US starting with the 2027 model year.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 July 2026
  • One blocks the receptor binding protein, which the virus uses to attach to human cells.
    — William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of blocks
Verb
  • Part of Ruggable's collaboration with Architectural Digest, the Ananda rug (designed by Hema Persad of ADPRO firm Sagrada Studio) captures the charm of traditional Moroccan craftsmanship while standing up to everyday kitchen life.
    — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 9 July 2026
  • Kate’s puff-sleeve shirt dress feels a touch more sophisticated than a traditional button-down silhouette, and this Amazon lookalike captures the same refined feel.
    — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
Definition of captures
Verb
  • Your hyperactive dog catches the scent of a deer and, powered by his hunter's instinct, disappears in the forest.
    — Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 11 July 2026
  • Made from mulberry silk with a satin finish, the dress has a natural gleam and catches the light just a touch, setting it apart from other styles in the room.
    — Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026
Definition of catches

Browse Nearby Words

intercepting
intercepts
intercession
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intercepts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intercepts. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on intercepts

Nglish: Translation of intercepts for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All