1
as in to understand
to have a clear idea of
a critic with a sharp intellect that is able to seize the most subtle nuances of a work of art
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to arrest
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law
seized the leaders of one of the city's major drug rings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
seized the escaping balloon just before it got out of reach
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to confiscate
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
Richard III seized the English throne from his brother Edward in 1483
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of seize
During a search of DeFelice’s residence on Feb. 17, 2022, investigators reportedly seized two short barrel rifles, 67 other firearms, a silencer with no serial number, more than 28 high-capacity magazines and other firearm parts, according to court records.
—
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 3 Apr. 2025
Who voted for Elon Musk to seize our private personal information and fire people?
—Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
And some election observers say the environment feels similar to that in the early stages of Trump’s first term, when Democrats seized control of the House in the 2018 midterms.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 3 Apr. 2025
Documents show police seized the following items from Kohberger that night: four medical-style gloves, a white T-shirt, a Champion sweatshirt, a pair of size 13 Nike shoes, and black shorts, boxers and socks, all from Under Armour.
—Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seize
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 3 Apr. 2025
Who voted for Elon Musk to seize our private personal information and fire people?
—Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
And some election observers say the environment feels similar to that in the early stages of Trump’s first term, when Democrats seized control of the House in the 2018 midterms.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 3 Apr. 2025
Documents show police seized the following items from Kohberger that night: four medical-style gloves, a white T-shirt, a Champion sweatshirt, a pair of size 13 Nike shoes, and black shorts, boxers and socks, all from Under Armour.
—Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seize
Verb
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At some point 3 to 4 billion years ago, Mars lost its atmosphere for reasons not yet fully understood, and with it, the temperate conditions that allowed liquid water to exist on its surface.—
Jonathan O’Callaghan,
JSTOR Daily,
10 Apr. 2025
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IndieWire understands the festival was waiting to confirm Denzel Washington’s attendance, and indeed the star will be at Cannes.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Police arrested a man on Monday and accused him of intentionally crashing his vehicle into a pedestrian in Stamford in February, which landed the victim in the intensive care unit in a local hospital.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
7 Apr. 2025
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Early Sunday morning, Special Victims Unit detectives tracked down Isom, who is homeless, near the 4600 block of West Sunrise Boulevard in Plantation and arrested him.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Roberts grabbed eight boards vs. Gonzaga in the round of 32, 12 vs. Purdue in the Sweet 16 and 12 more vs. Duke in the Final Four.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
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There was not a vast gulf between the teams on Saturday but Wolves had the edge in terms of quality, none more so than substitute Pablo Sarabia, who stepped off the bench to grab a goal and an assist with an ice-cool finish and a clever pass for Strand Larsen.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Then, in 2010, the bank where the chips were stored confiscated the chips after opening the deposit box.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr.,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2025
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The animals were confiscated and given to multiple wildlife agencies for care, according to the post.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Snow is best known for being part of the ensemble cast in Universal’s Pitch Perfect and its two sequels.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
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It was best known as the home to a long list of A-list stars, filmmakers and Hollywood insiders.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Police believed Jones was armed with a gun during the events that led to Reynolds’ death, but no gun was found when he was apprehended.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2025
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He was apprehended in Altoona, Pennsylvania, following a five-day search.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But the damage can be reversible if caught early enough.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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For annuals, catching weeds early can mean the difference between a handful of weeds and thousands of seedlings.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Coop is fired from his high-profile finance job, starts stealing from his wealthy neighbors to keep up his lifestyle, chaos ensues, and get your popcorn ready.—
Danielle Pergament,
SELF,
10 Apr. 2025
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The biggest concern for cemetery board members is the bronze doors stolen from three mausoleums, which can be worth more than $10,000 per set.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Seize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seize. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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