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capture

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noun

as in prisoner
one that has been taken and held in confinement a Spanish treasure ship was the most valuable capture ever taken by that privateer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb capture contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of capture are bag, catch, ensnare, entrap, snare, and trap. While all these words mean "to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing," capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.

capture an enemy stronghold

In what contexts can bag take the place of capture?

In some situations, the words bag and capture are roughly equivalent. However, bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.

bagged a brace of pheasants

When is catch a more appropriate choice than capture?

The words catch and capture are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding.

caught the dog as it ran by

How do entrap and ensnare relate to one another, in the sense of capture?

Both entrap and ensnare more often are figurative.

entrapped the witness with a trick question
a sting operation that ensnared burglars

How is trap related to other words for capture?

Trap, snare, entrap, and ensnare imply seizing by some device that holds the one caught at the mercy of the captor. Trap and snare apply more commonly to physical seizing.

trap animals
snared butterflies with a net

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of capture
Verb
In Canada, an annual live stream captures the summer migration of tens of thousands of chatty beluga whales. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025 With nearly 8 million Venezuelans displaced—the second-largest migration globally and the largest ever within South America—the film captures rising tensions, cultural clashes, and radicalization in Chile’s border communities. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
The reported capture marks the latest development in the more than three-year war between Russia and Ukraine. Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 8 Apr. 2025 But the action takes another turn as the love story takes him out of the store and out of hiding, only to be threatened with capture once again. Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for capture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capture
Verb
  • Chicago Tribune Arnold Palmer, who cooked up the notion of the modern Grand Slam in 1960 — after Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan had achieved it — played the PGA Championship 34 times without winning to complete the slam.
    Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Federer had to wait five months from winning the Swiss Indoors in October 2018 to the Dubai Championships in March 2019 to complete the century.
    Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • At one point, police said, the couple stopped and became involved in a verbal altercation, and the man allegedly grabbed her by the neck and strangled her.
    Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
  • The teacher showed up unannounced at the student's home on Wednesday and requested that the child grab the missing homework assignment, the family said.
    Landon Mion, Fox News, 25 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Wang had held numerous talks with Waltz’s predecessor, Jake Sullivan, including an exchange that led to a rare prisoner swap.
    Beijing and Washington Bureaus, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
  • While in jail, Dean bonds with Zoro, a grim and mysterious teenage prisoner serving time for murder.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The lineup of artists and presenters will be announced in the upcoming months, with fans eligible to earn free tickets by taking action on the Global Citizen app or here.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The film was nominated for Best Picture, earning 10 nominations and winning four.
    Brian Welk, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Authorities eventually caught him at a truck stop in Mississippi in November of that year.
    Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Doses are given at: 2 months 4 months 6 months 15–18 months 4–6 years Can adults get whooping cough? Adults can catch whooping cough, though symptoms tend to be milder than in children.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The strategy is straightforward: invest at least $2,000 in a company's stock to gain shareholder rights, then submit resolutions pushing for corporate responsibility.
    Doc Louallen, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Many victims reported Crawley used his professional status and charismatic personality to gain trust, create an illusion of financial stability and ultimately exploit those relationships for personal gain, the release states.
    Ron Wood, Arkansas Online, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • These results suggest that media-savvy Democrats who seize this moment to call out Trump and the MAGA agenda could put themselves in a strong position to become the next leader of the Democratic Party.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Big little Liechtenstein Soon after the Castro brothers seized power in 1959, at the height of the Cold War as the globe was falling into capitalist or communist camps, a complete U.S. trade embargo sought to choke the Cuban economy and bring about regime change.
    Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The strong fragrance deter pests that often plague Brassica family plants, the garden expert shares, so plant them with Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cabbage to reap the full benefits.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2025
  • There are also a slew of women’s styles under $100, and your husband or boyfriend can also reap the benefits of AllSaints’ discounts with an extra 30% off AllSaints men’s styles, plus check out select sales picks under $150.
    Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 26 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Capture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capture. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

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