1
as in to arrest
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law
the officer nabbed the purse snatcher before he could escape
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
a pickpocket nabbed my wallet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nab
Disney+ nabs the upcoming live-action series featuring the friendly ghost.
—
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 May 2026
The two nabbed the roles after a search on both sides of the Atlantic in December.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2026
Officers don’t believe Keys was hiding out in the store to be the first to nab a set of the Pokémon cards.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
In a reflection of its growing Hollywood clout, YouTube last year inked a deal for exclusive global rights to the Oscars awards ceremony beginning in 2029 and running through 2033, nabbing the media rights from Disney’s ABC.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nab
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 May 2026
The two nabbed the roles after a search on both sides of the Atlantic in December.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2026
Officers don’t believe Keys was hiding out in the store to be the first to nab a set of the Pokémon cards.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
In a reflection of its growing Hollywood clout, YouTube last year inked a deal for exclusive global rights to the Oscars awards ceremony beginning in 2029 and running through 2033, nabbing the media rights from Disney’s ABC.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nab
Verb
-
Last month, Spears was arrested in Westlake Village by the California Highway Patrol.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
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The man accused of murdering him was arrested and charged less than a week later.—
Luke Parker,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Mikal Bridges grabbed the offensive rebound and threw it out to Jalen Brunson.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
5 May 2026
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The director also grabbed images on the fly, using his iPhone during location scouting to get close-ups of the insects and on set during forest chases.—
Stuart Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
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That collapse is spurred not just by Napoleon, but also outside pressure from the human-run Pilkington Corporation, intent on reclaiming the freedom that these precious cartoon animals just seized.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2026
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Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of a blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Overall, about half of children with the disease are infected during birth, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia said, while others caught it from family members.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
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In 2023, the NCAA put in guidelines that punish athletes caught gambling on their own school, or other sports at their school, with a permanent loss of eligibility.—
Trey Wallace OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Authorities reported finding an unknown substance in her vehicle when she was apprehended.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
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He was reportedly apprehended at one of his family’s many properties in the city, no manhunt necessary.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bain snatched the hat but marched defiantly straight to the stage to greet Goodell.—
Rick Stroud,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
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Anthony Stevens is accused of three chain-snatching robberies that happened on April 20 near the 1500 block of Martin Luther King Avenue, close to Long Beach Polytechnic High School.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Suu Kyi, 80, has been detained by the junta since and her whereabouts have been unclear amid a deadly civil war that was triggered by the February 2021 coup that has engulfed much of the impoverished Southeast Asian nation.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
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The shooter was detained and is speaking to homicide detectives, police said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nab. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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