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
The algorithm’s top pick is Noah, a copywriter in a midlife crisis, to train UniView’s new bot Quinn on the best way to nab consumers’ attention and empty their wallets.
—
Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
But Francisco Alvarez grounded back to reliever Justin Bruihl, who nabbed Semien at third base for a force out.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
The singer won her first Grammy in 2020, nabbing three awards for best pop solo performance, best urban contemporary album and best traditional R&B performance.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
And with consumers more mindful of their budgets, Panera may nab customers who used to dine at sit-down restaurants.
—St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nab
Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
But Francisco Alvarez grounded back to reliever Justin Bruihl, who nabbed Semien at third base for a force out.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
The singer won her first Grammy in 2020, nabbing three awards for best pop solo performance, best urban contemporary album and best traditional R&B performance.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
And with consumers more mindful of their budgets, Panera may nab customers who used to dine at sit-down restaurants.
—St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nab
Verb
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Game warden testifies about arresting Horner Texas Game Warden Josh Espinoza was the first witness to testify on Wednesday morning.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
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In 2022, a prominent former member of the national team was arrested for allegedly protesting against the country's leadership.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Mornings tend to revolve around Regatta Buffet, or, for something lighter and more grab-and-go, Café Madeleine or Bahama Bagel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
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Feel daring, attention-grabbing and unapologetically you.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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According to the search warrant, investigators went through the home and reported seizing 13 blue capsule pills marked R3060.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
9 Apr. 2026
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Brendan Carr, the chairman of the FCC who is rarely shy on any media topic, seized on the issue of accessible sports rights in a post on X earlier this year.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Ravensbergen is a rare southpaw as a right-catching goalie (coincidentally, as is Askarov).—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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But most patients don’t notice a flea bite before catching typhus.—
Don Sweeney
April 8,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Rodriguez was apprehended in Pennsylvania, and the DA said he'll be extradited to New York City next week, also for second-degree murder and other charges.—
Lisa Rozner,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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As the car came to a stop, two suspects fled, but they were chased down by officers and apprehended.—
Bay City News Service,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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However, Huang’s not convinced that AGI will cause a jobs reckoning, just like previous tech transformations weren’t able to snatch his job.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
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Max Verstappen snatched the torch from Lewis Hamilton and became one of the most unstoppable Formula 1 drivers in the sport from 2021 to 2024.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The two were detained for over a week this past winter.—
Frankie McLister,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
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In Gulf states, hundreds of people have been arrested or detained for posting videos of strikes and military facilities to social media.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nab. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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