1
as in to arrest
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law
the officer nabbed the purse snatcher before he could escape
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
a pickpocket nabbed my wallet
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nab
New York overcame a pair of 20-point Boston leads to steal road wins in Games 1 and 2, and nabbed a 3-1 series edge while watching the Celtics' best player, six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum, tear his Achilles tendon late into Game 4.
—
Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025
After the Cougars’ Taylor Waters won the pole vault with a Colorado 2025 top mark of 16 feet, 9 inches, and his fellow senior teammate Sawyer Carr tied for sixth to nab 3.5 more points, Cherokee Trail needed to finish no worse than sixth in the 1,600-meter relay to capture the title.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 17 May 2025
Now, a new study published Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals how the birds use the power of physics to nab their elusive prey.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 May 2025
More sports are crashing into the streaming arena: YouTube nabbed exclusive rights to an NFL game for the 2025 season, marking the first time the video platform will livestream an NFL game for free in its entirety.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for nab
Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025
After the Cougars’ Taylor Waters won the pole vault with a Colorado 2025 top mark of 16 feet, 9 inches, and his fellow senior teammate Sawyer Carr tied for sixth to nab 3.5 more points, Cherokee Trail needed to finish no worse than sixth in the 1,600-meter relay to capture the title.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 17 May 2025
Now, a new study published Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals how the birds use the power of physics to nab their elusive prey.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 May 2025
More sports are crashing into the streaming arena: YouTube nabbed exclusive rights to an NFL game for the 2025 season, marking the first time the video platform will livestream an NFL game for free in its entirety.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for nab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nab
Verb
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Officers went to the townhouse and arrested Woeltz, who is charged with assault, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment and criminal possession of a gun.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
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On March 8, 1990, when Lyle was arrested in connection with their parents' murders, Erik was competing in a tennis tournament in Israel.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
25 May 2025
Verb
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In the morning, the restaurant doubles as a coffee shop where guests can grab drip coffee, fresh juices, and a small selection of hot and cold breakfast options, including the beloved Hawaiian classic, Loco Moco.—
Jalyn Robinson,
Travel + Leisure,
25 May 2025
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The colorful bar framed in bright neon lights is on the main concourse, so people walking by can grab a drink and head to the casino or other favorite activity, Allen said.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
24 May 2025
Verb
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But is Simone now the villain – or simply someone with a tough upbringing who seized an opportunity to secure her future?—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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Israel imposed a blockade on all supplies entering Gaza in March, saying Hamas was seizing supplies meant for civilians - a charge the group denies.—
Nidal al-Mughrabi,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Financial services leaders are thus caught in a paradox.—
Kathleen Walch,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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Throughout the show, Elliot is often caught telling his kids wildly inappropriate stories in an effort to get closer to them and inspire them to open up.—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
People.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
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The Sun newspaper reports that, back in 2006, Pike – who starred as Amy Dunne in Gone Girl alongside Ben Affleck and also appeared in Bond film Die Another Day – was speaking to her mother on the phone when she was violently apprehended by a thief on a bicycle.—
Caroline Frost,
Deadline,
25 May 2025
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Like many of those apprehended this week, Fonseca Solorzano arrived in the United States from Honduras via CPB One, an application set up during the Biden administration that provided asylum seekers a way to enter the country legally after going through a background check.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
Verb
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Read Next National Bear learns ‘bad behaviors’ from Colorado resident’s trash habits, officials say May 22, 2025 3:23 PM Read Next National Bear snatches trail cam in its mouth — and is caught on video.—
Helena Wegner,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2025
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Sizes are limited, so don’t wait too long to snatch up a pair of these gorgeous leather wedges.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
23 May 2025
Verb
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In the past two decades, Panahi, like many of his countrymen and fellow-artists, has faced continual persecution by the Iranian government: he has been detained and imprisoned, placed under house arrest, forbidden to leave the country, and banned from filmmaking.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
26 May 2025
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Deputies have detained the other man for questioning, and Homicide Bureau detectives are investigating the shooting, Colome said.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
26 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nab. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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