nabs

verb

present tense third-person singular of nab
1
as in seizes
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 grabs
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 nabs Dutch team nabs 17 bikes from KC shop. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026 Now, DeLuz just wants to make sure Hilton nabs one of those top two spots, especially after intense sparring with fading Republican candidate Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. — Terry Collins, USA Today, 1 June 2026 Tampa Bay passes up on a few top edge rushers here (Miami’s Akheem Mesidor and Auburn’s Keldric Faulk) because of the depth at the position and instead nabs McCoy before a few other corner-needy teams. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 Apr. 2026 This bundle also includes one month of eero Plus, which nabs you exra features like parental controls to help set schedules and content filters. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026 Infielder Chris Hacopian barrels a ball, but Jaquae Stewart nabs it right before the warning track. — Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026 When one pilot nabs a speed record, almost instantly another goes up into the clouds to attempt to top them. — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026 McEntire is up to four top 10s, Wilson claims her seventh, while Cyrus nabs her milestone twentieth top 10 bestseller. — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026 Quavo, likewise, nabs his third champ among his solo outings. — Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nabs
  1. seizes
  2. grabs
  3. arrests
  4. catches
  5. apprehends
  6. snatches
  7. detains
  8. captures
Verb
  • Trump seizes America’s 250th-birthday spotlight, headlining the Great American State Fair, hosting a UFC bout at the White House and promoting new passports, $250 bills and coins bearing his image.
    — Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
  • Ellie brings up the salad and seizes the opportunity to take credit for her part in making lunch.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 26 May 2026
Definition of seizes
Verb
  • What a thrilling end to this match as Spain grabs a late winner to beat Belgium, 2-1.
    — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
  • Once inside, she’s confronted by Tommy (James Eddie), who stupidly grabs her to escort her out.
    — William Earl, Variety, 2 July 2026
Definition of grabs
Verb
  • Keith arrests our thinking, and cons us into suppressing our critical faculties with the same kind of internalized surveillance that philosopher Michel Foucault broke down to describe a prison’s use of the panopticon in Discipline and Punish.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
  • Devlin throws a punch at Stone when the chief arrests him for drunken driving.
    — Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
Definition of arrests
Verb
  • Your hyperactive dog catches the scent of a deer and, powered by his hunter's instinct, disappears in the forest.
    — Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 11 July 2026
  • Made from mulberry silk with a satin finish, the dress has a natural gleam and catches the light just a touch, setting it apart from other styles in the room.
    — Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026
Definition of catches
Verb
  • John Early, as anyone encountering his work soon apprehends, chooses the latter.
    — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 7 June 2026
  • Though the team immediately apprehends a suspect, the Marshals end up taking criticism from both sides.
    — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of apprehends
Verb
  • In the midst of handing the job over to his son, even as Diego is making a speech about water supplies, hygiene and education, Don Alejandro snatches it back to cheers, clutches his heart and dies.
    — Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • These picks start at $11 and range from a one-piece swimsuit that snatches your waist to an everyday pair of wide-leg jeans and this summer-friendly tank top.
    — Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026
Definition of snatches
Verb
  • Alligator Alcatraz houses a few hundred employees in trailers and detains about 650 male immigrants in large tents; until a few weeks ago, the number of those being detained was nearly 1,500.
    — Eric Schlosser, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
  • What are your rights if ICE detains you?
    — Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Definition of detains
Verb
  • Part of Ruggable's collaboration with Architectural Digest, the Ananda rug (designed by Hema Persad of ADPRO firm Sagrada Studio) captures the charm of traditional Moroccan craftsmanship while standing up to everyday kitchen life.
    — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 9 July 2026
  • Kate’s puff-sleeve shirt dress feels a touch more sophisticated than a traditional button-down silhouette, and this Amazon lookalike captures the same refined feel.
    — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
Definition of captures

Browse Nearby Words

nabobs
nabs
nacreous
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Cite this Entry

“Nabs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nabs. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of nabs for Spanish Speakers

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