dragnet
noun
drag·net
ˈdrag-ˌnet 
1
a
: a net drawn along the bottom of a body of water
b
: a net used on the ground (as to capture small game)
2
: a network of measures for apprehension (as of criminals)
Examples of dragnet in a Sentence
Nine suspects were caught in the police dragnet.
Recent Examples on the Web
The dragnet also collected proprietary information belonging to Tesla, Blue Origin, Amgen, Merck, Pfizer, Roche, and dozens of other companies.
—
ArsTechnica, 9 July 2025
Allowing those militarized agents to make dragnet abductions and warrantless arrests and detain people without due process.
—Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 10 June 2025
The footage drew worldwide outrage and turned Öztürk into a powerful symbol of the Department of Homeland Security dragnet.
—Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 13 Apr. 2025
But people in the country legally also have been caught in Trump’s dragnet.
—Laurie Kellman, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dragnet
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ArsTechnica, 9 July 2025
Allowing those militarized agents to make dragnet abductions and warrantless arrests and detain people without due process.
—Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 10 June 2025
The footage drew worldwide outrage and turned Öztürk into a powerful symbol of the Department of Homeland Security dragnet.
—Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 13 Apr. 2025
But people in the country legally also have been caught in Trump’s dragnet.
—Laurie Kellman, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dragnet
Cite this Entry
“Dragnet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dragnet. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dragnet
noun
drag·net
ˈdrag-ˌnet
1
: a net dragged along the bottom of a body of water
2
: a series of planned actions for catching a criminal
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