snatch 1 of 2

snatch

2 of 2

noun

slang
as in kidnaping
the unlawful or forcible carrying away of a person or animal to the police chief, it didn't look like a snatch, but another case of a bride-to-be getting cold feet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word snatch different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of snatch are clutch, grab, grasp, seize, and take. While all these words mean "to get hold of by or as if by catching up with the hand," snatch suggests more suddenness or quickness but less force than seize.

snatched a doughnut and ran

When is it sensible to use clutch instead of snatch?

The words clutch and snatch can be used in similar contexts, but clutch suggests avidity or anxiety in seizing or grasping and may imply less success in holding.

clutching her purse

How are the words grab and snatch related?

Grab implies more roughness or rudeness than snatch.

grabbed roughly by the arm

When would grasp be a good substitute for snatch?

The words grasp and snatch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, grasp stresses a laying hold so as to have firmly in possession.

grasp the handle and pull

In what contexts can seize take the place of snatch?

While the synonyms seize and snatch are close in meaning, seize implies a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of something tangible or an apprehending of something fleeting or elusive when intangible.

seized the suspect

When can take be used instead of snatch?

The meanings of take and snatch largely overlap; however, take is a general term applicable to any manner of getting something into one's possession or control.

take some salad from the bowl

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 snatch
Verb
England held off Spain in a nail-biting penalty shootout to retain the UEFA Women’s Euro title, while Nigeria stomped back from two goals down to snatch the WAFCON crown for the 10th time from hosts Morocco. Asli Pelit, New York Times, 30 July 2025 Fitzpatrick drifted over slowly before snatching the pass, which might have been slightly overthrown. Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 26 July 2025
Noun
The text, sung by two sopranos, may well have been in Esperanto, as only snatches were decipherable. Alan G. Artner, chicagotribune.com, 4 June 2017 The beat is now peppy with drum and snatches of piano, a common Beatles rhythm. Nicholas Dawidoff, The Atlantic, 18 May 2017 See All Example Sentences for snatch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snatch
Verb
  • Leave your troubles behind and grab a lime, because Thursday is National Tequila Day.
    Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
  • Concerned, the roommates grabbed golf clubs from one of the first-floor bedrooms and checked the house for a possible intruder.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 24 July 2025
Verb
  • Chisholm was caught sleeping and doubled up at first on a ball that didn’t leave the infield.
    James Oconnell, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2025
  • Fans can catch Snow in the latest American drama television series, The Hunting Wives, based on the novel by May Cobb, that premiered in July 2025.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Officers reviewed a surveillance video that confirmed the account of the abduction.
    Ariela Lopez, jsonline.com, 21 July 2025
  • New York State Police now say there is no indication that an abduction happened.
    Stephen Sorace , Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2025
Verb
  • The agency seized another $17,000 from Dreamers Arcade, another casino tied to the case against Lopez and his co-defendants.
    Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2025
  • Leading a high-spending redistricting campaign that, if successful, helps Democrats seize the House would seemingly make Newsom a hero among the party faithful across the country.
    Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • In April 2024, Lateral officer Myron Howard, who was with the department for one year, was charged with rape, criminal confinement, official misconduct, making an unlawful proposition, public indecency and public nudity.
    Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 30 July 2025
  • Thomas Partey, the footballer accused of rape, will feature on the Premier League’s official trading cards when they are released next month — after Arsenal rubber-stamped his inclusion.
    Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 29 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Snatch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snatch. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on snatch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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