as in to grab
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of snatch
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 2 Apr. 2025
There is little incentive for Russia to kill or snatch U.S. soldiers: A Russian or Belarusian attack on NATO in Lithuania would certainly mean reprisals or worse against Russia, and the escalation would proceed in predictable fashion, until a bad end for Russia at best, and for humanity at worst.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2025
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
Verb
The costly foul occurred at the end of a hectic sequence in which Westbrook snatched what appeared to be a game-clinching steal, only to miss an uncontested layup at the end of a 2-on-1 fast break (reminiscent of Torrey Craig’s blunder against the 2020 Jazz).
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 2 Apr. 2025
There is little incentive for Russia to kill or snatch U.S. soldiers: A Russian or Belarusian attack on NATO in Lithuania would certainly mean reprisals or worse against Russia, and the escalation would proceed in predictable fashion, until a bad end for Russia at best, and for humanity at worst.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 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
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In the footage, Combs, wearing a robe, is seen kicking Ventura, grabbing her by the hair and throwing her to the ground before grabbing her suitcase and handbag.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2025
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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
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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Adames also made one of the finest and best-timed leaping catches from a shortstop that Oracle Park has ever seen, which isn’t a claim that can be thrown around lightly.—
Grant Brisbee,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In March 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes, accusing him of responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2025
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The Yale School of Public Health Humanitarian Research Lab, which was tracking the abductions, had counted more than 30,000 children taken from Ukraine to Russia and Belarus since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.—
Edward Wong,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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At that point, Hamas had emerged victorious in elections and seized power amid a violent rift with the PA's leading Fatah faction, still led by Arafat's successor, President Mahmoud Abbas.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Apr. 2025
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Illinois was among the first states to pass an NIL law, and Kolak was ready to seize the moment.—
Stacy St. Clair,
ProPublica,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Soulja Boy has been ordered to pay a hefty sum to a Jane Doe victim who accused the rapper of rape and assault.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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The data had been filed in a high-profile federal lawsuit involving a 15-year-old girl who said Myers Park High School administrators failed to investigate her on-campus rape.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Snatch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snatch. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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