1
as in knowing
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 arresting
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 grabbing
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 confiscating
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 seizing
By April 2023, the dispute had evolved into civil war, as the RSF launched a series of attacks against government and military positions nationwide, seizing parts of the country's capital, Khartoum, and other smaller cities.
—
Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Fentanyl, which was responsible for the overwhelming majority of them, doesn’t come from Venezuela, and the Coast Guard has no record of seizing it in the Caribbean.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
The purchase of the rifle was possible because IMPD and the Marion County prosecutors never filed a red flag petition with the court after seizing the shotgun.
—Tony Cook, IndyStar, 21 Oct. 2025
In the Eastern Conference, all of the playoff places had been claimed prior to Decision Day, with the Philadelphia Union also seizing the Supporters’ Shield with a match to spare.
—Avi Creditor, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seizing
Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Fentanyl, which was responsible for the overwhelming majority of them, doesn’t come from Venezuela, and the Coast Guard has no record of seizing it in the Caribbean.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
The purchase of the rifle was possible because IMPD and the Marion County prosecutors never filed a red flag petition with the court after seizing the shotgun.
—Tony Cook, IndyStar, 21 Oct. 2025
In the Eastern Conference, all of the playoff places had been claimed prior to Decision Day, with the Philadelphia Union also seizing the Supporters’ Shield with a match to spare.
—Avi Creditor, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seizing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seizing
Verb
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Wagner apologizes, knowing that his relationship with his baby, who is now 27 years old, is too important to throw away by being overprotective of her (or of his work-daughter Kaya).—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
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Catering horror to a younger demographic is all about knowing where to draw the line.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The four-day operation focused on identifying and arresting people suspected of using online platforms to prey on children.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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Turner spoke with an arresting conviction, locating Canada’s fate in geography, history, and its defining quest to defy manifest destiny and political gravity.—
Dónal Gill,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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These are especially useful for taking public transport, grabbing a quick coffee, or leaving a small tip at a restaurant.—
Asia London Palomba,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
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Peterson led the way, scoring 26 points — 24 before halftime — and grabbing four rebounds.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The sweeping opinion ran through a list of Israeli practices that the ICJ said violated international law, including confiscating land, building Israeli settlements in the territories, and depriving Palestinians of natural resources and the right to self-determination.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
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Lower courts initially sided with Jouppi, finding that confiscating an entire airplane over the cases of beer was excessive.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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By better understanding its environment, the robot can more effectively perceive and navigate the cluttered and complex interior of the reactor, avoiding obstacles and locating work areas.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
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The startup has built a unified real-time orchestration layer that manages all the different things the AI needs to do at once, such as listening, understanding what’s being said, deciding how to respond, checking databases, and delivering an answer.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Bands of masked men apprehending people in broad daylight in the streets and hauling them off.—
J. David McSwane,
ProPublica,
18 Oct. 2025
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The swift police response and use of video surveillance technology proved crucial in identifying and apprehending the shooter.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Going into Detroit and snatching a victory, given the circumstances, would be an energy boost bordering on rocket-propulsion levels.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
1 Nov. 2025
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Diabate is relentless and has an uncanny knack for the ball, endearing himself to his teammates with his penchant for keeping the ball alive or snatching offense rebounds off the glass.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The sign-stealing scandal of the Houston Astros [who beat the Dodgers in the 2017 World Series].—
Alison Weinflash,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
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What was once a guilty-pleasure show for the whole family to enjoy has since captivated audiences through a refreshing social media strategy and stars like Robert Irwin, who is totally stealing hearts on the dance floor and our phone screens.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Seizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seizing. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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