seized

verb

past tense of seize
1
as in understood
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 arrested
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 grabbed
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 confiscated
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

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 seized President Min Aung Hlaing, the former army chief who had originally seized power in 2021 from Suu Kyi’s civilian government, has been trying to win political legitimacy since the takeover and resume relations with ASEAN. — ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026 Attacks could draw retaliation and reignite Yemen’s war Yemen’s civil war began in 2014 when the rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen, forcing the government into exile. — Fatma Khaled, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2026 In 2024, the FBI seized Ogles’ cellphone during an investigation into his campaign finance reporting. — Daniel S. Levine, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026 Authorities have seized nine computers or electronic devices from the suspect’s residence as part of their investigation. — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026 State police said Guerette was removed from his vehicle for safety reasons before troopers searched the minivan, allegedly finding a loaded 9mm handgun in a box, which was seized by police. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026 After decades of relatively peaceful seas, cargo vessels have become high-priority targets, getting damaged, sunk or seized with abandon. — Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 For years, where others have seen voids with Heat rosters, Spoelstra has seen opportunities seized by the likes of Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent and others who have contributed to Heat runs to the NBA Finals. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026 In Spain, Sánchez's political opponents also seized on the opportunity. — Miguel MacIas, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seized
  1. understood
  2. arrested
  3. grabbed
  4. confiscated
  5. knew
  6. apprehended
  7. caught
  8. stole
Verb
  • These types of conversations help teens feel understood and strengthen trust, while uncovering more about what is really driving the desire to change up their look.
    — Liz Regalia, Parents, 10 Aug. 2026
  • No one in the nuclear industry really understood the massive technological advancements made in oil drilling within the last 10 to 20 years, Baltzer told Fortune.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of understood
Verb
  • An 18-year-old Los Banos resident was arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was found shot to death early Sunday in Turlock, police said.
    — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Manuel Hernandez, 46, of Manhattan, was arrested early Sunday and charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment, just hours after the boat carrying 14 people overturned in New York Harbor, the New York Police Department said.
    — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of arrested
Verb
  • In an attempt to stop the dog attack, the owner grabbed a gun and shot the attacking dog.
    — Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Mulholland grabbed his assistant and told his chauffeur to head there.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of grabbed
Verb
  • Reuters — The Thai teen behind a deadly school shooting outside Bangkok had an air gun confiscated by a teacher last year and had watched violent content online, police said on Sunday, as the government promised new safety protocols for schools.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The car is believed to have been confiscated by German forces and shipped back to Berlin.
    — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of confiscated
Verb
  • One page, on paper, taped inside the front cover of a book, written before anyone knew the full answer and precisely because nobody did.
    — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Investigators said that all the teens knew one another but have not yet determined a motive for the killings, according to DeLand Police Chief Jason Umberger.
    — Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of knew
Verb
  • Rising antisemitic hate-crime stats suggest the proliferation of deranged bigots terrorizing the Jewish community, some who may go on to commit deadly crimes if they are not apprehended.
    — Rachel Sales, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • But on Sunday morning, as the couple walked out of their rideshare outside Midway Airport, they were apprehended by federal immigration agents.
    — Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of apprehended
Verb
  • Rangel caught the word himself, mid-sentence, describing where small firms sit.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The players argue they were effectively caught between two different NCAA eligibility systems.
    — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of caught
Verb
  • In February, a 17-year-old stole a gun from police and opened fire at a public high school in southern Thailand, briefly taking people hostage in a two-hour attack that killed one person and wounded two others.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The teen stabbed a police officer with a knife and stole his weapon -- a 9mm pistol -- just before the incident, then used it to carry out the attack.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of stole

Browse Nearby Words

seize
seized
seizes
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Seized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seized. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on seized

Nglish: Translation of seized for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of salvo

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

'Gaslighting,' 'Woke,' 'Democracy,' and Other Top Lookups
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All