as in grabbing
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of snatching
Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 13 May 2026
His co-defendant Cristian Montecino-Sanzana pleaded guilty to two counts related to one of the three thefts that Bustamante Leiva admitted — an April 12 purse-snatching at a Nando's restaurant.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
Many Londoners have firsthand experience of phone-snatching or have witnessed the surge in shoplifting documented by the Office for National Statistics.
—CNN Money, 13 Jan. 2026
Polls show that Londoners broadly feel safe in their town, although property theft, particularly phone snatching and shoplifting, has leapt up in recent years.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Reactions from Moscow and Beijing to Maduro’s snatching have varied.
—Comfort Ero, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Manipulation, threats, acts of physical and psychological violence (to oneself and others), as well as actual body snatching, were all part of Cipher’s brand while Linklater embodied Gen V’s season two big bad.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
While millions are riveted by Sunday’s seven-minute jewelry heist of Napoleonic jewels at the Louvre, another major sizable snatching, the 1990 break-in at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, resurfaced in the news in a different way.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2025
But the chick-snatching wasn't all terror and crib robbery, Parker stressed.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Kassia Bonesteel, CBS News, 27 May 2026
All four keep impatiently cutting each other off, snatching the phone back and forth.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 19 May 2026
Private equity swooped in for many, snatching up mattress company Casper, athleisure brand Outdoor Voices, women’s fashion upstart Reformation and jewelry retailer Catbird.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
The Unit was responsible for snatching former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
—David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Instead, Hull will face Millwall over two legs after snatching the sixth place that had been in Wrexham’s possession when the final day got underway.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 3 May 2026
The suspect, identified by police as Abraham Recinos, was seen snatching tools from one home, then tossing them next door before walking to Bruce Casey’s residence.
—Ted Scouten, Miami Herald, 2 May 2026
Joaquín Guzmán, a former leader of the Chapitos, confessed to the 2024 kidnapping of Zambada, snatching him at a meeting, flying him by private plane to the United States and handing him over to authorities.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
This adjustable, two-piece lanyard set helps reduce the chances of a passerby or someone speeding by on a scooter from snatching your phone.
—Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
Schuman now faces a felony count of robbery by sudden snatching in addition to three misdemeanors — one count of battery, one count of petit theft and one count of criminal mischief, court records show.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 13 May 2026
His co-defendant Cristian Montecino-Sanzana pleaded guilty to two counts related to one of the three thefts that Bustamante Leiva admitted — an April 12 purse-snatching at a Nando's restaurant.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
Many Londoners have firsthand experience of phone-snatching or have witnessed the surge in shoplifting documented by the Office for National Statistics.
—CNN Money, 13 Jan. 2026
Polls show that Londoners broadly feel safe in their town, although property theft, particularly phone snatching and shoplifting, has leapt up in recent years.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Reactions from Moscow and Beijing to Maduro’s snatching have varied.
—Comfort Ero, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Manipulation, threats, acts of physical and psychological violence (to oneself and others), as well as actual body snatching, were all part of Cipher’s brand while Linklater embodied Gen V’s season two big bad.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
While millions are riveted by Sunday’s seven-minute jewelry heist of Napoleonic jewels at the Louvre, another major sizable snatching, the 1990 break-in at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, resurfaced in the news in a different way.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2025
But the chick-snatching wasn't all terror and crib robbery, Parker stressed.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
Five people were arrested last week after a months-long investigation into a series of chain-snatching robberies in San Francisco, police said on Wednesday.
—Kassia Bonesteel, CBS News, 27 May 2026
All four keep impatiently cutting each other off, snatching the phone back and forth.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 19 May 2026
Private equity swooped in for many, snatching up mattress company Casper, athleisure brand Outdoor Voices, women’s fashion upstart Reformation and jewelry retailer Catbird.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
The Unit was responsible for snatching former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
—David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Instead, Hull will face Millwall over two legs after snatching the sixth place that had been in Wrexham’s possession when the final day got underway.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 3 May 2026
The suspect, identified by police as Abraham Recinos, was seen snatching tools from one home, then tossing them next door before walking to Bruce Casey’s residence.
—Ted Scouten, Miami Herald, 2 May 2026
Joaquín Guzmán, a former leader of the Chapitos, confessed to the 2024 kidnapping of Zambada, snatching him at a meeting, flying him by private plane to the United States and handing him over to authorities.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
This adjustable, two-piece lanyard set helps reduce the chances of a passerby or someone speeding by on a scooter from snatching your phone.
—Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snatching
Noun
-
Four people have been arrested and charged in connection with a utility wire theft that caused $50,000 in damage and knocked out telecom services for 10,000 customers in Fremont, police said.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
The 10 agents who operated in each simulation were all subject to the same laws, including prohibitions on theft, property destruction, and deception.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The best know how to play through grabbing or shoving of various degrees.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
Wembanyama finished Game 6 with 28 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
While earring stacks have dominated jewelry trends for years, one-piece ear cuffs give major main character energy and are the perfect grab-and-go accessory for styling this summer.—
Frances Solá-Santiago,
InStyle,
24 May 2026
-
The fight would have been up for grabs in the 12th, but Usyk would likely have had a major edge having just badly hurt Verhoeven in the 11th.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Fish is from Abolobi, who partners with fishermen using responsible, ethical fishing methods, catching only non-endangered species.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2026
-
In Game 1, the Montreal Canadiens earned full marks for catching the rusty Carolina Hurricanes off guard and piling up four quick goals on the way to a 6-2 win.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
In 1940, the German army was invading and seizing one European country after another.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 May 2026
-
Prosecutors also said the captain received radio calls from cartel members attempting to communicate with the Aquatravesia before boarding or seizing the vessel.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Snatching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snatching. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
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