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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of nab
Season 1 of The Studio was critically acclaimed and nabbed 23 nominations at the 77th Emmy Awards.
—
Katherine Schaffstall, HollywoodReporter, 29 Aug. 2025
His work on Fernando Meirelles' The Two Popes (2018) nabbed him an Academy Award nomination.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
But a homeowner who nabbed a 3% mortgage in the low-interest years might still be bragging about it to the neighbors.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2025
In one game in high school, Barron abandoned his assignment completely to jump a route and nab a pick.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nab
Katherine Schaffstall, HollywoodReporter, 29 Aug. 2025
His work on Fernando Meirelles' The Two Popes (2018) nabbed him an Academy Award nomination.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
But a homeowner who nabbed a 3% mortgage in the low-interest years might still be bragging about it to the neighbors.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2025
In one game in high school, Barron abandoned his assignment completely to jump a route and nab a pick.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nab
Verb
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In December 2022, Kendra Licari was arrested and charged with multiple counts of stalking and using a computer to commit a crime, reported ABC News and the Morning Sun, a news outlet based in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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Miami police on Tuesday arrested the father of a teen who was stabbed to death inside a Brickell condominium in June on a charge of violating a domestic violence injunction, his attorneys said.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Money is being funneled into headline-grabbing initiatives, such as customer-facing chatbots and generative content tools.—
Mark Minevich,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
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Huda and Amaya appeared to remain on good terms, as Huda grabbed her hand at one point.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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That initial investigation led the HPD to obtain a search warrant to seize electronic devices from the property associated with the IP address of the cyber tip, and the department investigated online communications.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Sep. 2025
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In addition, several firearms and drugs were seized from other residences, according to police.—
Jack Moore,
ABC News,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The senior receiver/running back caught a 49-yard pass in the second quarter for a touchdown and added a 90-yard TD run in the third to help the Mustangs to a 26-2 nonconference victory Thursday afternoon over Ag Science at Gately Stadium in Chicago.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
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Drone footage shows crews hosing down a smoking pile of materials that caught fire at a northeastern Massachusetts recycling plant.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Nunez was apprehended two days later near an upscale apartment complex and now faces a potential sentence of up to a decade in federal prison, if convicted.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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Suppose the number is read in one case out of a hundred, and that the information reaches someone who apprehends the culprit in one case out of one thousand.—
Thomas Brewster,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As the boy reached out to take the cap, Szczerek standing next to him snatched it away and gave it to a woman who put it in her handbag despite the boy’s visible protestations.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
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And just when the woman and the cookie are about to share a kiss, a hand reaches in from above and snatches the cookie from the scene.—
Moná Thomas,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Ayman Soliman, a former hospital chaplain, has been detained by immigration authorities since July after losing his asylum status.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
5 Sep. 2025
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Officers detained the man but released him soon afterward, police sources said.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nab. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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