Synonyms of seizes

seizes

verb

present tense third-person singular of seize

1

as in knows

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

• knows
• understands
• sees
• recognizes
• grasps
• deciphers
• comprehends
• appreciates
• gets
• realizes
• conceives
• perceives
• apprehends
• senses
• discerns
• assimilates
• makes
• beholds
• catches
• intuits
• decodes
• registers
• digs
• tumbles (to)
• twigs
• catches on (to)
• makes out
• absorbs
• cognizes
• picks up on
• groks
• savvies
• cottons (to or on to)
• penetrates
• takes in
• digests
• compasses
• pierces
• fathoms

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• misses
• misunderstands
• misconstrues
• misreads
• misinterprets
• misconceives
• mistakes
• misapprehends
• misperceives

2

as in arrests

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

• arrests
• grabs
• apprehends
• detains
• restrains
• captures
• nabs
• snatches
• pinches
• runs in
• commits
• catches
• pulls in
• nails
• busts
• picks up
• imprisons
• collars
• nicks
• lands
• traps
• incarcerates
• jails
• holds
• grapples
• binds
• gets
• snaps (up)
• confines
• hooks
• snares
• bags
• locks (up)
• handcuffs
• interns
• shackles
• enchains
• fetters
• remands
• immures
• trammels
• jugs
• manacles
• rearrests

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discharges
• liberates
• springs
• frees
• loosens
• looses
• releases
• emancipates
• unbinds
• unchains

3

as in grabs

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

4

as in confiscates

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

• grabs
• confiscates
• usurps
• steals
• converts
• occupies
• invades
• claims
• appropriates
• commandeers
• preempts
• assumes
• arrogates
• snatches
• expropriates
• presses
• pirates
• annexes
• takes over
• grasps
• attaches
• loots
• repossesses
• encroaches
• impounds
• despoils
• sequesters
• wrests
• pillages
• preoccupies
• embezzles
• wrenches
• infringes
• misuses
• misapplies
• trespasses
• collars
• misappropriates
• peculates

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of seizes

Wilson, meanwhile, seizes on the opening to play teacher’s pet. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2026

Obreht is a writer who doesn’t rush into easy patterns of storytelling but seizes control from the jump. — Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026

Better, Cretton seizes small moments to put his stamp on this installment. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

Rhaenyra, queen of the Blacks, seizes the Iron Throne in King’s Landing with the support of Alicent, who has simply had enough of her unstable and terrible sons. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 July 2026

While Linda seizes, Bradley makes a break for it on a makeshift raft. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 21 May 2026

Dean seizes the moment to confess his feelings for Allie, hoping to turn their friends-with-benefits arrangement into something more. — Nasha Smith, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026

The chef Brooks Headley seizes the day every day, showing us that vegetables are canny, capricious characters, capable of anything. — Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid Joan Goodwin, a physics professor with a lifelong love of the stars, seizes the chance to join NASA’s first class of women astronauts and soon finds friendship, passion, and purpose among her fellow trainees. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 9 May 2026