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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nab
Clark followed suit, nabbing dynamic guard Kelsey Mitchell, who works next to her in the Fever’s starting five.
—
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 July 2025
The Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, a 4,000-acre retreat in the Austin countryside, nabbed the No. 4 spot with a long list of amenities, including four golf courses, eight restaurants, and a luxurious spa.
—Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025
The outpacing of expectations indicates that Rebirth may end up nabbing a $145 million opening in the US.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
Joe Mantello nabbed the win for best direction of a play while Denis O’Hare won best performance by a featured actor.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nab
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 July 2025
The Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, a 4,000-acre retreat in the Austin countryside, nabbed the No. 4 spot with a long list of amenities, including four golf courses, eight restaurants, and a luxurious spa.
—Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025
The outpacing of expectations indicates that Rebirth may end up nabbing a $145 million opening in the US.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
Joe Mantello nabbed the win for best direction of a play while Denis O’Hare won best performance by a featured actor.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nab
Verb
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Muse, 29, was arrested June 24, 2024, on allegations of inappropriate conduct with children at the Fort Worth private school.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 July 2025
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In late December 2022, Bryan was arrested at his parents' — Maryann and Michael's — Pennsylvania home in connection with the murders of four University of Idaho students who were killed the previous month.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
24 July 2025
Verb
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Leave your troubles behind and grab a lime, because Thursday is National Tequila Day.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
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Concerned, the roommates grabbed golf clubs from one of the first-floor bedrooms and checked the house for a possible intruder.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
24 July 2025
Verb
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Marino revealed to This American Life that during the early days of filming the reality show, Butler approached him about selling large amounts of marijuana that had been seized in drug raids by Wielsch.—
Lynsey Eidell,
People.com,
22 July 2025
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Investigators noted that one of the devices that was seized could not be examined because it was encrypted, the warrant affidavit said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Scannell also said that his dogs as well as one of his neighbors suffered respiratory problems after one of the project's contractors — who was later fired — was caught dumping debris out of the building's windows.—
JC Reindl,
Freep.com,
23 July 2025
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In an increasingly competitive and combustible world, and with an economically fragile and politically polarized domestic environment, the United States cannot afford being caught by surprise.—
MATAN CHOREV,
Foreign Affairs,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have apprehended a teacher who allegedly overstayed his visa.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
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The forums proved useful in 2019, when the public learned the sheriff’s office had cooperated with ICE to allow its agents to enter private areas in county jails and apprehend immigrants in detention.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Though, they have been known to try to snatch plastic water bottles and other treasures from guests' belongings (seems like fair revenge to me).—
Grace Tucker,
The Enquirer,
23 July 2025
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Our goal isn't to snatch phones and iPads and screens.—
Eileen Finan,
People.com,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Luckily, other passengers managed to stop him and pin him down before crew members were able to detain the man.—
Colson Thayer,
People.com,
25 July 2025
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Yang, a 37-year-old mother of five, was detained that day and deported two weeks later to Laos – a small country in Southeast Asia that her parents had fled four decades earlier.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nab. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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