nabbed

verb

past tense of nab
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Christian Hunter, a 2023 Michelin Young Chef award winner who nabbed Chicago’s Atelier a Michelin star in its first year, is opening his first solo spot in the Windy City. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2026 This morning, thieves nabbed four Renoir paintings and abandoned two before escaping from a southern French museum. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 8 Sep. 2026 Isaac, Mulligan and Melton were all recognized individually, and the series nabbed a nomination for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2026 Hoerner, who advanced to second on the throw, was easily nabbed trying to steal third to end the inning. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026 Alabama, Iowa, Northwestern, Missouri and Illinois nabbed players. — Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 As for Haaland, whose long, pale-blonde hair nabbed countless headlines during the World Cup, buzzed it off and filmed the whole thing for YouTube. — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 24 Aug. 2026 The 11 Pro Fold nabbed 896Mbps down and 199Mbps up, with the Pixel 10 following slightly behind with 773Mbps down and 146Mbps up. — Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026 An in-house option for third base could be Bryson Stott, who has slid over there during the Phillies’ infield carousel to accommodate second baseman Luis Arraez, who the team nabbed at the trade deadline. — Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nabbed
  1. arrested
  2. grabbed
  3. seized
  4. caught
  5. apprehended
  6. snatched
  7. captured
Verb
  • Dasha Ramírez, now 9, still remembers the day armed, uniformed Border Patrol agents arrested her family, her mother, Noemi Chavez, told the Tribune.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Federal authorities have arrested and sought to deport pro-Palestinian activists, actions that judges have deemed a First Amendment violation.
    — BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of arrested
Verb
  • Oliver grabbed a hat-trick to take his tally for the season to seven in just four games after four against Leeds United the previous week.
    — Rob Tanner, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • At 4 o’clock on a Thursday morning, Salomon Olea grabbed a packed lunch of a ham-and- cheese torta and a white peach, kissed his wife goodbye and left the home in Escondido he’s owned for nearly 30 years.
    — Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of grabbed
Verb
  • Masterson’s detractors have seized on the rebrand as an attempt to minimize his connection to Trump in a year when national Republicans worry the president’s polarizing leadership could cost the party majorities in the House and Senate.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Agents also seized a semiautomatic handgun and $11,800 in cash, the outlet reported.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of seized
Verb
  • Ancelotti, though, could have spent the past four weeks in Europe and still barely caught a glance of Estevao Willian, Brazil’s would-be attacking talisman.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • In this ⁠year’s hunting season, which runs ​from ⁠June to around the end of September, 80 fin whales had been caught as of Wednesday, according to ⁠Humane World for Animals, an animal welfare group that tracks ​the ⁠catches.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of caught
Verb
  • Tshuma, who was identified as a British citizen of Zimbabwean heritage, was arrested in Johannesburg on July 10 while in possession of a gun and ammunition after Interpol issued a notice for him to be apprehended.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Authorities apprehended the father and son in a warehouse in Sonora, Mexico.
    — Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of apprehended
Verb
  • Faria was down a break and scrambling to survive, having snatched the opening set by getting past Alcaraz’s defenses.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • As of July this year, 35,000 phones had been snatched, according to official statistics from the Met.
    — Emmet Lyons, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of snatched
Verb
  • Israel captured East Jerusalem and the West Bank in the 1967 war.
    — Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026
  • One of the iconic Chicago Bears photos from 1985, shot during a minicamp practice in the spring, captured Walter Payton with one finger on his left hand tugging down the shorts of fullback Matt Suhey, who was lined up in the I-formation.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of captured

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Cite this Entry

“Nabbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nabbed. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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