1
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
an old scam that's been used for years to nobble unsuspecting London tourists
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2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
a London bobby nobbled the pickpocket just as he was about to make off with the tourist's watch
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nobble
Poland’s ruling party has tried to nobble the courts and the civil service.
—
The Economist, 31 Oct. 2019
Lacking a supermajority to amend the constitution, PiS did the next best thing and nobbled the constitutional tribunal.
—The Economist, 21 Apr. 2018
In Hungary, having nobbled the courts, media and public prosecutor, Viktor Orban is squeezing civil society and using state (and EU) funds to nurture oligarchs.
—The Economist, 19 Apr. 2018
The Economist, 31 Oct. 2019
Lacking a supermajority to amend the constitution, PiS did the next best thing and nobbled the constitutional tribunal.
—The Economist, 21 Apr. 2018
In Hungary, having nobbled the courts, media and public prosecutor, Viktor Orban is squeezing civil society and using state (and EU) funds to nurture oligarchs.
—The Economist, 19 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nobble
Verb
-
Neither team cheats for offense, every inch of ice is hard-earned.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Niemann, a grandmaster, beat Carlsen in an upset in a 2022 match, leading Carlsen to withdraw from the tournament and setting off wild speculation about whether Niemann could have cheated, though no such allegations were ever proven.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Marsh male warbler simultaneously serenades its partner while grabbing a quick snack.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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The game ended appropriately with Minnesota’s Naz Reid grabbing an offensive rebound off a Timberwolves missed free throw attempt and hugging the ball like Minnesota hugged this victory.—
Bill Plaschke,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2025
Verb
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For now, the researchers have left the ship in situ, partially covering it with original soil and squeezing wet sponges onto it to preserve moisture.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
30 Apr. 2025
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The question of whether a modern Phantom can squeeze through the driveway gates remains to be seen.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The alleged thieves were caught and their trial began this week.—
Eleanor Beardsley,
NPR,
29 Apr. 2025
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Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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To a visitor’s eye, the light switch is nowhere to be found—that is, until a tintype photograph is plucked from a ledge near the front door to reveal a white plastic switch plate.—
Shoko Wanger,
Architectural Digest,
1 May 2025
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More than 260 Southern California steelhead trout were plucked from their stream in the Palisades fire burn scar and moved to a different area, saving them from lethal debris flows.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Before Amber could join her brother, according to one witness, a man in a black pick-up truck pulled into the parking lot, snatched Amber off her bicycle and took off.—
Emily Krauser,
People.com,
29 Apr. 2025
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Elevating and snatching the ball above the rim, Denver’s power forward transformed an airball into a glorious rainbow.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
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That play — not even a full turnover, mind you — is what stings a full year later.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
-
Malone, who gets Mincemeat’s best song, still looks like a favorite in his category, and Mincemeat did get recognition for its score (written by three of its stars, members of the same comedy troupe), but the lack of enthusiasm elsewhere must sting.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
1 May 2025
Verb
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Fifty years ago this week Communist forces seized the city of Saigon bringing an end to the Vietnam war.—
Greg Dixon,
NPR,
29 Apr. 2025
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Officials seized less than 50 pounds of fentanyl along the U.S. northern border in the 2024 fiscal year, according to the AP, citing U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) data.—
Mohammed Soliman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nobble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nobble. Accessed 12 May. 2025.
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