Synonyms of nets

nets 1 of 4

noun (1)

plural of net

1

as in nettings

a fabric made of strands loosely twisted, knotted, or woven together at regular intervals

the basketball didn't go into the basket—it just hit the net

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nettings
• meshes
• screens
• networks
• laces
• webbings
• webs
• screenings
• grilles
• lattices
• tulles
• fishnets
• filigrees
• wireworks
• marquisettes
• bobbinets
• Brussels laces

2

as in traps

a device or scheme for capturing another by surprise

drug runners caught in an elaborate net set by the police

Synonyms & Similar Words

• traps
• ambushes
• snares
• webs
• ruses
• entanglements
• tricks
• deceptions
• snags
• hazards
• catches
• land mines
• pitfalls
• entrapments
• subterfuges
• envelopments
• booby traps
• artifices
• enmeshments
• cheats
• duplicities
• double-dealings
• ploys

3

as in tangles

something that catches and holds

caught in a net of palace intrigues

Synonyms & Similar Words

• traps
• tangles
• meshes
• webs
• snares
• entanglements
• toils
• labyrinths
• nooses
• mazes
• quicksands
• morasses
• quagmires
• tanglements
• snarls
• knots
• spiderwebs
• cobwebs
• cat's cradles

nets

2 of 4

noun (2)

plural of net

1

as in earnings

the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received

his net for the year was about 60% of his total income

Synonyms & Similar Words

• earnings
• profits
• proceeds
• gains
• returns
• payoffs
• incomes
• salaries
• revenues
• wages
• sales
• yields
• lucre
• payments
• windfalls
• cleanups
• bottom lines
• pays
• killings
• compensations
• interests
• grosses
• emoluments
• remittals
• requitals

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• costs
• expenses
• losses
• expenditures
• charges
• outlays
• disbursements
• outgoes

2

as in hearts

the central part or aspect of something under consideration

the net of the report on race relations is that things are better but not good enough

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hearts
• roots
• cores
• kernels
• essences
• points
• sums
• meats
• pivots
• nuclei
• bottom lines
• centerpieces
• meat and potatoes
• nubs
• nubbins
• piths
• gists
• bull's-eyes
• themes
• drifts
• subjects
• cruxes
• substances
• contents
• bodies
• keynotes
• tenors
• directions
• courses
• theses
• hypotheses
• propositions
• purports

nets

3 of 4

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of net

1

as in meshes

to catch or hold as if in a net

the kite was stubbornly netted in the branches of the willow tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

• traps
• tangles
• meshes
• snares
• ensnares
• enmeshes
• entraps
• entangles
• involves
• captures
• ensnarls
• entoils
• catches up
• collars
• implicates
• bags
• embroils
• birdlimes
• mires

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• detaches
• disentangles
• frees
• disengages
• untangles
• clears
• liberates
• extricates

2

as in grabs

to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly

a police sting that netted drug dealers from all parts of the city

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grabs
• catches
• traps
• snatches
• lands
• seizes
• snares
• captures
• hooks
• snags
• gets
• bags
• grapples
• collars
• raps
• nabs
• nails
• corrals
• cops
• takes hold (of)
• snaps (up)
• gloves
• ropes
• nobbles
• clutches
• gloms
• arrests
• corners
• grasps
• holds
• grips
• meshes
• bays
• secures
• fists
• lassos
• clasps
• apprehends
• detains
• latches (on or onto)
• halters
• ensnares
• enmeshes
• entraps
• kidnaps
• fastens (on)
• rends
• entangles
• abducts
• spirits (away or off)
• wrests

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• misses
• frees
• discharges
• releases
• drops
• liberates
• loosens
• unhands

nets

4 of 4

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of net

as in earns

to receive after charges and deductions have been made

the entrepreneur netted millions on that deal

Synonyms & Similar Words

• earns
• gains
• gets
• clears
• makes
• realizes
• garners
• rakes (in)
• cleans up
• cashes in (on)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• grosses

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of nets

Noun

Volleyball nets are higher in men’s volleyball due to this reason. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Unlike phishing scams or malware-laden emails that cast wide nets and hope to lure in random victims, zero-click attacks are highly targeted. — Justyn Newman, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026

There, hundreds of men and boys carrying their own baskets, nets, and bags walk toward the water. — Umar Farooq, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Aug. 2026

The Chase Center could be a court at the park with chain nets. — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Each target may require a different approach, from robotic arms to nets, harpoons, or enclosure systems like ClearSpace's. — Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Aug. 2026

The task force suggests that altering the physical environment, such as putting up nets, barriers to force drones into different flight paths, and making one’s surroundings appear uninteresting from the air can deceive drones. — Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026

Meanwhile, Ukrainian cities have had to resort to placing nets over city streets to mitigate attacks on civilians from Russian FPV (first person view) attack drones. — Will Cady, SPIN, 30 July 2026

The resulting, room-sized artwork engulfed visitors in a swirling fantasia featuring bouncing balls, morphing nets and slow-motion action shots of Messi. — Chloe Veltman, NPR, 29 July 2026

Verb

Violating the alternate-side rules — which vary by neighborhood and can see the streets swept anywhere from one to three times a week — already nets New Yorkers a $65 fine. — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026

Samsung is currently offering up to $1,200 instant trade-in credit for your used phone, but only the Galaxy S26 Ultra nets that much. — Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Fuel smuggling now nets organized crime tens of billions of dollars annually, representing the cartels’ second-largest source of revenue, after drug trafficking, the Treasury says. — Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026

The move bolsters a Rays rotation that entered the day ranked third in the American League in ERA and nets New York a trio of prospects in right-hander Gary Gill Hill, infielder Émilien Pitre and outfielder Aidan Smith. — Tim Britton, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026

Ismaïla Sarr nets a goal in the 56th minute. — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 27 June 2026

In a day that this venue won’t ever forget, Lionel Messi nets two goals to give Argentina the 2-0 win over Austria in the second World Cup group stage match for both squads and the third match at AT&T Stadium. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 June 2026

While Samoskevich isn’t directly involved in a deal that nets Florida either of those players — or another potential star — the draft capital the Panthers acquired could be used to sweeten a deal further down the road. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 June 2026

That deal nets the league roughly $7 billion annually and represents the most expensive domestic sports rights package in basketball history. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 June 2026