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
He got nabbed after almost 14 years on the lam, some of them spent teaching scuba in Egypt.
—
Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
After nabbing a bronze medal in the twenty-kilometre biathlon, Lægreid took an interview that quickly became a tearful monologue, not about his sport but about personal matters.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026
Another melting pot on the other side of the world, Taipei, nabbed the third place spot on InsureandGo's list.
—Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
Memphis, Tennessee, nabbed the top spot.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nab
Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
After nabbing a bronze medal in the twenty-kilometre biathlon, Lægreid took an interview that quickly became a tearful monologue, not about his sport but about personal matters.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026
Another melting pot on the other side of the world, Taipei, nabbed the third place spot on InsureandGo's list.
—Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
Memphis, Tennessee, nabbed the top spot.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nab
Verb
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The federal lawmakers called on DHS to provide more information on the basis of arresting and deporting DACA recipients.—
Mathew Miranda
February 26,
Sacbee.com,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Gusmane Coulibaly was arrested on Thursday after his picture was circulated on a NYPD tipline for a massive snowball skirmish that happened earlier this week.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Headline-grabbing cases of apparent fraud at companies like Carriox (which allegedly misled its private-credit lenders) and auto lender Tricolor (where banks got hoodwinked) show there’s plenty of blame to go around.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
2 Mar. 2026
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The sophomore guard has grabbed the reins for the Red Raiders in Toppin’s absence and was named the Big 12 Conference’s Player of the Week on Monday.—
SportsDay Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the nineteenth century, travel to remote frontiers beyond the reach of telegraph had insulated Britain’s men on the spot from London’s authority, conceding them the freedom to seize new territory.—
Alfred McCoy,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
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The union representing patrol officers quickly seized on the incident as evidence that respect for officers has declined under the new mayor.—
Anthony Izaguirre,
Fortune,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Occy’s Left is one of Asia’s most iconic breaks and offers a chance to catch the perfect left.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The idea is to catch reading struggles early on and guide parents on how to help their kids.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Officers apprehended the suspect before paramedics arrived to evaluate him.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
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After he is apprehended, his bond will be set at $350,000 cash, according to a warrant issued in support of his arrest.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Shortly after opening night, a martini-drunk Richard corners a New York Times critic (Stephen Spinella) who had panned him, snatching his cane and aggressively monologuing Shakespeare at him.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Feb. 2026
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Security cameras captured a masked thief snatching collectible LEGO sets from a shop in Redlands during an early-morning burglary.—
Zach Boetto,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The prospect of CoreCivic’s Leavenworth facility being used to detain as many as 1,033 noncitizens arrested by ICE has roiled the Leavenworth community.—
Matthew Kelly
February 27,
Kansas City Star,
27 Feb. 2026
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Federal officers frequently deployed tear gas for crowd control in neighborhood clashes with activists, often detaining them along with immigrants.—
Sarah Raza,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nab. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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