NABBED Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

nabbed

verb

past tense of nab

as in arrested

to take or keep under one's control by authority of law the officer nabbed the purse snatcher before he could escape

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in grabbed

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

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 nabbed However, officers quickly nabbed him and took him into custody. — Briauna Brown, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 After signing Walker, the Chiefs nabbed former Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado on a one-year deal, then selected Emmett Johnson in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 16 Aug. 2026 That followed a single by Angel Genoa on a grounder up the middle that Bogaerts nabbed but threw into the Padres dugout, allowing Genoa to get to second base. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026 This is the company’s second collaboration with Stewart after Pablo Larraín’s Spencer, which nabbed her a Best Actress Oscar nomination. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026 In a deal that signaled the future in media for top teams, SportsNet LA (now owned by Charter Communications) nabbed local TV rights to Dodger games in a landmark 25-year deal struck in 2013. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026 For its most recent season, the show nabbed nine Emmy noms, including lead and supporting actor nods for Oldman and Lowden, as well as best drama series. — Trey Williams, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026 Like Sophie, a young Hankin nabbed a major part in her high school musical, just as her mother was grappling with a cancer diagnosis. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2026 He was left to wonder how many seniors might be skipping their daily ride for fear of getting nabbed by the e-bike police. — John Aguilar, Denver Post, 11 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nabbed

Verb

Hal is arrested, per his plan, as John meets and sleeps with a mysterious woman, Zoe (Poorna Jagannathan), and uses Hal’s ring to light her cigarette after the fact.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
He was arrested in Orlando in March 2023 on charges including first-degree murder and solicitation to commit a capital felony.

— Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of arrested

Verb

Village officials said the coyote grabbed a small dog from a yard in the Tangley Oaks subdivision.

— Todd Feurer, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Freeland grabbed at his back after delivering a pitch to Ben Rortvedt, who flied out on the play, and was removed after allowing four runs on six hits.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of grabbed

Verb

Messi had a shot saved at the beginning of the second half, but Palacios then sparked a move from one side of the pitch to the other as Nashville restored its lead in the 49th minute and seized control of the game.

— Dean Jones, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Authorities have seized Walter’s cellphone and laptop, according to Bloomberg.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of seized

Verb

The hotel embraces a farm-to-table philosophy, supplementing the produce grown on the estate with purchases from nearby farms and fish caught each morning in the waters surrounding Menorca.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
West Nile virus is not contagious and can only be caught by being bitten by an infected mosquito, health officials say.

— Katie Houlis, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of caught

Verb

Five days after gunning down Thompson, Mangione was apprehended by local police in a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, when a person recognized him from a surveillance photo.

— Dan Mangan, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026
The teen was later apprehended in a neighborhood about half a mile away from the school.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of apprehended

Verb

The thieves then snatched the paintings and fled through the museum’s gardens—the whole heist took place in under three minutes.

— News Desk, Artforum, 17 Aug. 2026
The second was produced by Jahdae Barron, who alertly snatched a ball out of the air that had been tipped by linebacker Karene Reid and then raced 97 yards for a touchdown.

— Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of snatched

Verb

Deputies and police officers already at the courthouse pursued Guerrero during a brief foot chase and captured him, officials said.

— Richard Ramos, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Rosalind Franklin captured the critical X-ray diffraction image that proved the double-helix structure of DNA.

— Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of captured

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nabbed

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“Nabbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nabbed. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of nabbed

verb

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