nabbing

verb

present participle of nab
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

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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

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 nabbing After nabbing a minority stake in Puma earlier this year, Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group is investing in another troubled sportswear company. — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026 Once word gets out, nabbing center-orchestra seats (already going for over $300 apiece at press time) might feel like a minor miracle. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 4 Oct. 2026 Fatih Akin is no stranger to the festival circuit, having wowed Berlin with his Golden Bear-winning Head-On in 2004 and nabbing best screenplay in Cannes for The Edge of Heaven in 2007. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026 Boots was right, and the Eyes Wide Shut vibes prompt the team to make an exit (after nabbing some Champagne bottles). — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2026 After successfully nabbing a role in Brokeback Mountain, Hathaway dropped out of NYU. — Alyssa Modos, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026 But these ventures are tiny compared to the ranchlands, timberlands, and cropfields many one-percenters are nabbing. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026 Finishing in 32nd place and nabbing the highest draft lottery odds still matter — even if the persistent betrayal of the NHL’s draft lottery balls remains an open wound in this market. — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 The Silence of the Lambs is probably the most successful thriller in Oscar history, nabbing awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nabbing
  1. arresting
  2. grabbing
  3. seizing
  4. catching
  5. apprehending
  6. snatching
  7. capturing
Verb
  • There is no evidence that investigators sought cell phone data, internet search history or account information for the suspect’s profile before arresting Nick.
    — Kate Payne, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Historically, immigration authorities exercised prosecutorial discretion to avoid arresting or deporting individuals with pending or approved SIJS applications.
    — Rebecca Gelpi-Ufret, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of arresting
Verb
  • The catalyst was a headline-grabbing second-quarter loss of $154 million that likely sent trading algorithms to hit the sell button.
    — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Lopez then attacked Hager, grabbing his holster, and the two men fought over the deputy’s service weapon, according to the arrest report.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of grabbing
Verb
  • Troop movements over the past couple of weeks indicate the group is concentrating on seizing the southwestern highlands, which could then open the way for a push toward the government’s capital, Aden.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Counsel argued that seizing the ballots was necessary to preserve potential evidence before statutory destruction deadlines and to compare the total number of ballots with official vote records.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of seizing
Verb
  • Her complexion was lit-from-within radiant, with the warm pink pigment catching the light across the tops of her cheekbones.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 3 Oct. 2026
  • In 134 career games, Stewart rushed for 7,335 yards and 51 touchdowns while catching 162 passes for 1,295 yards and seven touchdowns.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of catching
Verb
  • The film cuts between Murray cautiously opening the suspicious package and FBI agents apprehending Kaczynski decades later.
    — Jane LaCroix, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation initially contacted Roswell police and asked for assistance locating and apprehending Spruill.
    — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of apprehending
Verb
  • Not just college kids, but Others cheering for Texas’ football team and snatching up Texas’ degrees.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • London — Images of masked men riding along London's streets on mopeds or electric bikes and snatching phones straight out of the hand of unsuspecting tourists and locals have gone viral in recent years.
    — Emmet Lyons, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of snatching
Verb
  • And rather than just capturing a small snapshot of what's going on, the ultraviolet imager can continually observe the show for up to 45 hours at a time, revealing how the auroral oval changes as conditions in the solar wind change.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Experts say flood maps need reform In many places, FEMA’s flood maps don’t do a good job of capturing the extent of severe flood risk.
    — Michael Phillis, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of capturing

Browse Nearby Words

nabbed
nabbing
nabe
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Cite this Entry

“Nabbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nabbing. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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