as in grabbed
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
the brazen seagull snatched the french fry right from my hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of snatched
Randle failed to hustle back into the play after Denver snatched an offensive rebound on a 45-foot heave with two minutes left.
—
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
Instead of eating the premium patties, the couple stuffed the burgers into a large duffel, adding desserts snatched from the buffet, the blog added.
—Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
How much information was snatched and what’s in it?
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
This is the same person who cut off dribble-drives in a second-half effort that shut down Minnesota in the Sweet 16, who snatched a pass that was nearly out of bounds for a layup.
—Haley Sawyer, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026
For years, defense tech has fought to prove itself in Washington and grab a chunk of the ballooning Pentagon budget snatched up by defense primes like Lockheed Martin, RTX and Northrop Grumman.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2026
For this year, at least, the Big Ten has snatched the March Madness spotlight that was locked on the SEC last year.
—ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
But New Yorkers elsewhere in the state continue to be at even greater risk of being snatched away and forced to endure life in detention camps because outside the five boroughs, chances are local enforcement is working hand-in-hand with ICE.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
The Longhorns snatched a narrow 68-66 win over NC State during the tournament’s First Four bout, salvaging their postseason run thanks to sixth-year senior Tramon Mark’s last-second shot.
—Mia Fishman, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
Instead of eating the premium patties, the couple stuffed the burgers into a large duffel, adding desserts snatched from the buffet, the blog added.
—Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
How much information was snatched and what’s in it?
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
This is the same person who cut off dribble-drives in a second-half effort that shut down Minnesota in the Sweet 16, who snatched a pass that was nearly out of bounds for a layup.
—Haley Sawyer, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026
For years, defense tech has fought to prove itself in Washington and grab a chunk of the ballooning Pentagon budget snatched up by defense primes like Lockheed Martin, RTX and Northrop Grumman.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2026
For this year, at least, the Big Ten has snatched the March Madness spotlight that was locked on the SEC last year.
—ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
But New Yorkers elsewhere in the state continue to be at even greater risk of being snatched away and forced to endure life in detention camps because outside the five boroughs, chances are local enforcement is working hand-in-hand with ICE.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
The Longhorns snatched a narrow 68-66 win over NC State during the tournament’s First Four bout, salvaging their postseason run thanks to sixth-year senior Tramon Mark’s last-second shot.
—Mia Fishman, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snatched
Verb
-
The officer grabbed me and said 'you're arrested,' and just put me in handcuffs and drug and dragged me out.—
Mahsa Saeidi,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Much of the film feels like Cronin grabbed a bunch of different clothes off a rack at a clothing store only to end up wearing a bizarrely mismatched outfit that never really comes together.—
Gregory Nussen,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His passion for off-roading and extreme competition now extends to his two sons, who have caught the Currie racing fervor.—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Read the story of the angler who caught 19 pounds of largemouth on one cast.—
Derek Horner,
Outdoor Life,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In October, the DEA Los Angeles Field Division found 628,000 pills containing carfentanil, while in September, officials seized more than 50,000 counterfeit M30 pills from a person at a gas station in Washington state that turned out to be a mixture of carfentanil and acetaminophen.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The West Metro Drug Task Force has arrested a man and seized a large quantity of drugs following a months-long investigation dating back to November.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Snatched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snatched. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
