1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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Recent Examples of nabbed
Samoskevich restored the Panthers’ (38-38-4, 80 points) two-goal lead after William Nylander nabbed back-to-back goals in the second period to cut the deficit to 3-2.
—
Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
Neon has nabbed its fifth film in the Cannes Film Festival competition slate with Na Hong-Jin’s Hope.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2026
Jonathan Goldstonewerse, 34, of Brooklyn Heights was nabbed Wednesday morning for stalking and aggravated harassment.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
Rocks nabbed by China’s robotic lunar sample return missions, Chang’e 5 and 6, indicate active volcanism there up until at least two billion years ago.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 7 Apr. 2026
Luckily, Shawn went to the audition and nabbed the part of the metahuman.
—Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026
Early in his career, Matthew Broderick nabbed the coveted role of Ferris Bueller in 1986's Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
—Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
The acting icon — who has nabbed three Oscars in her decades-long career — also gave Colbert some insight into the inspiration for Miranda Priestly.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
The helmet, considered a cultural icon of Romania, was on loan to the Drents Museum when it was nabbed more than a year ago along with a number of other objects.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
Neon has nabbed its fifth film in the Cannes Film Festival competition slate with Na Hong-Jin’s Hope.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2026
Jonathan Goldstonewerse, 34, of Brooklyn Heights was nabbed Wednesday morning for stalking and aggravated harassment.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
Rocks nabbed by China’s robotic lunar sample return missions, Chang’e 5 and 6, indicate active volcanism there up until at least two billion years ago.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 7 Apr. 2026
Luckily, Shawn went to the audition and nabbed the part of the metahuman.
—Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026
Early in his career, Matthew Broderick nabbed the coveted role of Ferris Bueller in 1986's Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
—Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
The acting icon — who has nabbed three Oscars in her decades-long career — also gave Colbert some insight into the inspiration for Miranda Priestly.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
The helmet, considered a cultural icon of Romania, was on loan to the Drents Museum when it was nabbed more than a year ago along with a number of other objects.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nabbed
Verb
-
He gets arrested for shoplifting.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The Riverside County Sheriff's Office arrested two teens for allegedly killing a 16-year-old last year.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The officer grabbed me and said 'you're arrested,' and just put me in handcuffs and drug and dragged me out.—
Mahsa Saeidi,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Much of the film feels like Cronin grabbed a bunch of different clothes off a rack at a clothing store only to end up wearing a bizarrely mismatched outfit that never really comes together.—
Gregory Nussen,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In October, the DEA Los Angeles Field Division found 628,000 pills containing carfentanil, while in September, officials seized more than 50,000 counterfeit M30 pills from a person at a gas station in Washington state that turned out to be a mixture of carfentanil and acetaminophen.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The West Metro Drug Task Force has arrested a man and seized a large quantity of drugs following a months-long investigation dating back to November.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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His passion for off-roading and extreme competition now extends to his two sons, who have caught the Currie racing fervor.—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Read the story of the angler who caught 19 pounds of largemouth on one cast.—
Derek Horner,
Outdoor Life,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Yan was apprehended on the same date and has been detained since her arrest, according to court records.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Jail records obtained by Monterey Bay area news station KSBW indicate that he was apprehended at Disney World.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
How much information was snatched and what’s in it?—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
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
-
Surveillance video in the area captured the moment when at least five gunshots can be heard as the incident unfolded.—
Steven Yablonski,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The world record landed in the middle of a heated high school relay race that had captured the attention of the stadium announcer and most of the fans.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nabbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nabbed. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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