1
as in arresting
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grabbing
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 nabbing
From a channel perspective, pure-play e-commerce platforms are nabbing share across price points, though some of those can be a slippery slope for brands.
—
James Manso, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
While working a day job at the National Security Agency after college, Sykes spent nights and weekends telling jokes, eventually nabbing a gig opening for Chris Rock.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
Spanberger pulled ahead among independent voters, nabbing 57% of support while her Republican challenger had 32%.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
The brigade of heavily armed cops terrified the kids, causing Cooper to take stock of police tactics deployed in service of nabbing people who might be no more than casual pot smokers.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
In particular, video podcasts have soared in popularity on Google's YouTube, which is increasingly nabbing a bigger share of viewership.
—Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
Whereas Morvan and Pilatus were never the same afterward, Velez, 58, continued to carve out an impressive career in entertainment, nabbing acting gigs and top 10 songs.
—Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
The Leafs wisely stayed on the hunt for more options in net throughout training camp and ultimately settled on making a waiver claim on the final day, nabbing 26-year-old Cayden Primeau from the Carolina Hurricanes, where he was set to be their third-stringer.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
The Official Release Party of a Showgirl smoked its competition at the box office this weekend, nabbing gold at home and abroad.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
James Manso, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
While working a day job at the National Security Agency after college, Sykes spent nights and weekends telling jokes, eventually nabbing a gig opening for Chris Rock.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
Spanberger pulled ahead among independent voters, nabbing 57% of support while her Republican challenger had 32%.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
The brigade of heavily armed cops terrified the kids, causing Cooper to take stock of police tactics deployed in service of nabbing people who might be no more than casual pot smokers.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
In particular, video podcasts have soared in popularity on Google's YouTube, which is increasingly nabbing a bigger share of viewership.
—Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
Whereas Morvan and Pilatus were never the same afterward, Velez, 58, continued to carve out an impressive career in entertainment, nabbing acting gigs and top 10 songs.
—Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
The Leafs wisely stayed on the hunt for more options in net throughout training camp and ultimately settled on making a waiver claim on the final day, nabbing 26-year-old Cayden Primeau from the Carolina Hurricanes, where he was set to be their third-stringer.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
The Official Release Party of a Showgirl smoked its competition at the box office this weekend, nabbing gold at home and abroad.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nabbing
Verb
-
The four-day operation focused on identifying and arresting people suspected of using online platforms to prey on children.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Turner spoke with an arresting conviction, locating Canada’s fate in geography, history, and its defining quest to defy manifest destiny and political gravity.—
Dónal Gill,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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These are especially useful for taking public transport, grabbing a quick coffee, or leaving a small tip at a restaurant.—
Asia London Palomba,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
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Peterson led the way, scoring 26 points — 24 before halftime — and grabbing four rebounds.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The officer ended up seizing the exempt plates on Farzam’s car, McChesney said.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
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In all those cases, the fund may lack the capital for seizing the opportunity.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
1 Nov. 2025
Verb
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As for type 2, one of the difficulties of catching the condition in its early stages is that symptoms can develop very gradually.—
Caroline C. Boyle,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
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The tight end had a big day as well, catching six passes for 101 yards.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Bands of masked men apprehending people in broad daylight in the streets and hauling them off.—
J. David McSwane,
ProPublica,
18 Oct. 2025
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The swift police response and use of video surveillance technology proved crucial in identifying and apprehending the shooter.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Going into Detroit and snatching a victory, given the circumstances, would be an energy boost bordering on rocket-propulsion levels.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
1 Nov. 2025
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Diabate is relentless and has an uncanny knack for the ball, endearing himself to his teammates with his penchant for keeping the ball alive or snatching offense rebounds off the glass.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Ohtani went on to win the World Series with the Dodgers in his first season, capturing the National League MVP as well, without even pitching.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Every frame of the film feels intentional, capturing the river and forests of the Amazon with great attention to the light and sounds of the region.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nabbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nabbing. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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