as in grabbing
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
I snapped up the last remaining cupcake before anyone else could get their mitts on it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snapping (up)
Verb
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Indiana lawmakers are expected to vote on some spotlight-grabbing bills today, including one that would pave the way for the Chicago Bears to move to Hammond, Indiana.—
Kaitlin Lange,
IndyStar,
27 Feb. 2026 -
The Smart House Inc dryer vent cleaner is an effective tool for grabbing lint that clogs hoses.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Nataliia Sukhar left her home in northeastern Kharkiv after the war broke out, catching a 15-hour train to Berlin with her then 5-year-old son, Gleb, on a journey followed by NBC News.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
24 Feb. 2026
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Andrea gets up and hurries across the street, catching the doctor at the clinic entrance.—
Rodrigo Hasbún,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Alongside Palasciano, speakers assailed the influx of Indian Americans, from accusing them of snatching the American Dream to criticizing their driving skills and even blaming them for traffic.—
Sarah Bahari,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Feb. 2026
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Guards shouting orders and snatching toys from small hands.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After the Richmond killings, police served search warrants at Fluker and Westbrook’s homes, seizing seven guns and other items related to the investigation, the complaint says.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
28 Feb. 2026
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These concerns grew acute in August 2024, when Ukraine launched its first offensive across the border into Russia, seizing a large chunk of territory in the region of Kursk.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Photographers hoping to immortalize their own views of the blood moon should read our expert's guide to capturing a total lunar eclipse, along with our roundups of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
1 Mar. 2026
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Shortly after the man appeared on camera, the surveillance system appeared to stop capturing video.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Snapping (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snapping%20%28up%29. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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