NABBED Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

nabbed

verb

past tense of nab

as in arrested

to take or keep under one's control by authority of law the officer nabbed the purse snatcher before he could escape

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in grabbed

to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly a pickpocket nabbed my wallet

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 nabbed At The Disco’s Brendon Urie, nabbed the Best Visual Effects award. — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026 The New York menswear brand has teamed up with the folks at Bose on an ultra-stylish pair of second-generation QuietComfort Ultra cans, which nabbed the accolade of best noise-canceling headphones in our 2026 Audio Awards. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2026 Instead of its famous Stars, Michelin awards the world’s best hotels with Keys — and a Charlotte hotspot has once again nabbed this coveted honor. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 23 Sep. 2026 The Chiefs’ defense nabbed a pick on the first series and allowed only 10 points. — Scott Chasen, Kansas City Star, 20 Sep. 2026 Luminous Silk Concealer debuted in 2020 and promptly won an Allure Best of Beauty Award (then nabbed another one in 2025). — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 Sep. 2026 Pittsburgh International Airport nabbed a top spot among North America's best medium airports based on its customer satisfaction scores, according to a recent study by JD Power. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026 In a competitive situation, Hulu has nabbed Hard Feelings, a rom-com series created by and starring actress/comedian/writer Mary Beth Barone. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026 For all five seasons, the series nabbed awards for crafts like casting, cinematography, sound editing and mixing, art direction, and more. — Keith Langston, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nabbed

Verb

British police arrested five men on Sunday near RAF Fairford in the west of England on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offenses.

— Mike Sheen, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026
In September 1644, Suffolk housewife Thomasine Stott was arrested for refusing to go to her state church.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of arrested

Verb

Ross also grabbed the woman by her ponytail and slammed her against the wall, causing injuries to her face and lip, according to the report.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Israel, Iranian analysts have noted, grabbed territory in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Syria after October 7 and argued that doing so was essential for its security.

— Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of grabbed

Verb

Almost every house was then surrounded by adjacent empty lots that had been seized to ensure that no one else would build.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
After spending over a decade pushing pop forward from its periphery, Charli xcx seized the zeitgeist in 2024 with Brat.

— Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of seized

Verb

All five men who were arrested after authorities said they were caught approaching the base in three vans shortly after midnight Sunday have been released on bail but remain under investigation.

— Greg Miller, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026
Mosley, who caught 13 passes for 255 yards and four touchdowns in his first three collegiate games, has missed USC’s past two games.

— Sean Campbell, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of caught

Verb

The video includes the search of Mangione's bag when he was apprehended at an Altoona McDonald's, the retrieval of the murder weapon and Mangione's transport in a squad car.

— Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
After being apprehended in Syria, she was transferred to FBI custody in January 2022.

— Sara Harmouch, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of apprehended

Verb

Leaving no pizza stone unturned, the results usually shake out as a healthy mix of the usual suspects and the odd dark horse, with the number one spot on the 2026 list snatched by a first-time world champion in West London.

— Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Sep. 2026
Sanders allegedly snatched a cigarette from one employee’s mouth and berated him for smoking.

— Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of snatched

Verb

The Houthis recently captured the strategic port city of Mokha and several Red Sea islands, extending their reach toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a maritime route through which about 12% of global trade passes.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
Against the stunning landscapes of wild, remote Turkey, captured in glorious detail by cinematographer Kiril Prodanov, Elif finds her muse again.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of captured

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“Nabbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nabbed. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of nabbed

verb

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