1
as in to understand
to have a clear idea of
a critic with a sharp intellect that is able to seize the most subtle nuances of a work of art
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to arrest
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law
seized the leaders of one of the city's major drug rings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
seized the escaping balloon just before it got out of reach
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to confiscate
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
Richard III seized the English throne from his brother Edward in 1483
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of seize
During the raid, police recovered hotel receipts tied to his associates, arrested them, and seized rifles and revolvers intended for the heist.
—
Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
Patel said agents seized nearly 139 kilograms of fentanyl powder from this operation alone, enough for 70 million lethal doses.
—David Ferrara, The Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025
Aledo looks to build momentum Aledo had a strong Week 1 performance, seizing 21-14 victory over 6A power Denton Guyer.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2025
Nearly 3,000 people were killed that day as 19 al-Qaida hijackers seized control of four jetliners, sending two of the planes into the World Trade Center in New York, one into the Pentagon and the fourth into a field in western Pennsylvania.
—Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seize
Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
Patel said agents seized nearly 139 kilograms of fentanyl powder from this operation alone, enough for 70 million lethal doses.
—David Ferrara, The Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025
Aledo looks to build momentum Aledo had a strong Week 1 performance, seizing 21-14 victory over 6A power Denton Guyer.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2025
Nearly 3,000 people were killed that day as 19 al-Qaida hijackers seized control of four jetliners, sending two of the planes into the World Trade Center in New York, one into the Pentagon and the fourth into a field in western Pennsylvania.
—Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seize
Verb
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These measurements are fundamental to understanding how greenhouse gas emissions relate to rising temperatures, simultaneously contributing to scientific research and informing policymakers of compliance with environmental regulations.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
6 Sep. 2025
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If the marathons of New York and London showcase splendour and establishment and magnificence and size and place, then the Great North Run offers something else; to complete it, to witness it, is to understand its pull.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In December 2022, Kendra Licari was arrested and charged with multiple counts of stalking and using a computer to commit a crime, reported ABC News and the Morning Sun, a news outlet based in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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Miami police on Tuesday arrested the father of a teen who was stabbed to death inside a Brickell condominium in June on a charge of violating a domestic violence injunction, his attorneys said.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Money is being funneled into headline-grabbing initiatives, such as customer-facing chatbots and generative content tools.—
Mark Minevich,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
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Huda and Amaya appeared to remain on good terms, as Huda grabbed her hand at one point.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, 12-inch centipedes were also confiscated and the green mamba, which had been sick, died after the raid.—
TJ Macias,
Kansas City Star,
3 Sep. 2025
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The boats were seized, the catch was confiscated by the government.—
Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
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He was reportedly known to law enforcement to wear a shoulder holster on the left side of his body.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Sep. 2025
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In late March, a 3-year-old Leavenworth boy known as EJ fell asleep for the night on a neighbor’s couch after eating grapes.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Nunez was apprehended two days later near an upscale apartment complex and now faces a potential sentence of up to a decade in federal prison, if convicted.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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Suppose the number is read in one case out of a hundred, and that the information reaches someone who apprehends the culprit in one case out of one thousand.—
Thomas Brewster,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The senior receiver/running back caught a 49-yard pass in the second quarter for a touchdown and added a 90-yard TD run in the third to help the Mustangs to a 26-2 nonconference victory Thursday afternoon over Ag Science at Gately Stadium in Chicago.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
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Drone footage shows crews hosing down a smoking pile of materials that caught fire at a northeastern Massachusetts recycling plant.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The bots would impersonate beneficiaries, using dates of birth and other information that can be found on the internet, to try to change the beneficiaries’ bank-routing information and steal their benefits.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
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Through the first week of September, Soto stole three bases.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Seize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seize. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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