seizing

verb

Definition of seizingnext
present participle of seize
1
as in knowing
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in arresting
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 grabbing
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 confiscating
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 seizing The Dodgers weren’t actually bankrupt at the time, but then owner Frank McCourt used the process to keep MLB from seizing the team. — Barry M. Bloom, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Withers, 28, has lately been seizing every opportunity in his path, but the Amazon MGM Studios rom-com represents a chance to show a lighter side. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026 Initially, Dubai Cares also accused Jafri of unlawfully seizing the painting and exploiting the charity, but a judge dismissed those claims. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Aside from social media posts complaining about the war’s fallout and some grumbling from oligarchs about the Kremlin seizing their assets, there are still no signs of any widespread popular unrest against Vladimir Putin’s regime. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026 The next month, cops conducted their first major raid of the operation, seizing a shipment of meth from the airport. — Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026 Putin began a neo-imperialist land grab, seizing territory around Russia’s hinterlands. — Literary Hub, 30 July 2026 Maduro disrupted her appearances by seizing sound systems or shutting down electricity. — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 Trump has also reportedly reviewed military options that include seizing Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export terminal near the Strait of Hormuz, or other strategic targets. — Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 20 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seizing
  1. knowing
  2. arresting
  3. grabbing
  4. confiscating
  5. understanding
  6. apprehending
  7. snatching
  8. stealing
Verb
  • But knowing how these shows work, Aaron will probably go home and Bryan and Bi will make it to the final to continue their rivalry there.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 July 2026
  • Not knowing the answer, the contestants used their lifeline to ask host Jimmy Kimmel.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 30 July 2026
Definition of knowing
Verb
  • Embracing jazz mysticism and trip-hop rhythms, the singer-songwriter takes some worthwhile risks on her arresting new album.
    — Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 29 July 2026
  • The month prior, Ariana Grande demanded that the administration stop using her music in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement TikTok video depicting federal agents arresting and handcuffing people.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 29 July 2026
Definition of arresting
Verb
  • Because of the abyss that comes into play in the mid-30s at RB, grabbing a RB (or two) in the first three tiers is crucial.
    — Jake Ciely, New York Times, 31 July 2026
  • The 35-year-old actor is often photographed doing deeply ordinary things around Manhattan—grabbing coffee, running errands, walking to wherever—wearing outfits that shouldn’t always work but somehow do.
    — Sam Reed, Glamour, 30 July 2026
Definition of grabbing
Verb
  • While appearing to regulate I-9 compliance, its core purpose is to prevent employers from coercing or intimidating vulnerable workers by confiscating or retaining their IDs.
    — Alonzo Martinez, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Romanian authorities indicted the Tate brothers on the charges in June 2023, placing them on house arrest and confiscating several of their assets.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026
Definition of confiscating
Verb
  • Order is restored to the kingdom through what is known as the Rumpelstiltskin effect, a term used by psychologists to describe the naming of something in order to create an illusion of understanding it.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Why Boxwoods Turn Brown The key to saving a browning boxwood is understanding why its foliage is fading to begin with, as not all causes are necessarily bad.
    — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of understanding
Verb
  • Police posted video of the raid on social media, showing officers collecting evidence at the scene and apprehending the suspect.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 June 2026
  • The Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office, United States Marshals Service and New Mexico State Police assisted in apprehending Jones, Hann said.
    — Caroline Zimmerman May 28, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Definition of apprehending
Verb
  • Google is snatching up more office space in the South Florida metropolis, just as its cofounders are buying million-dollar mansions right on the waterfront.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 22 July 2026
  • Scylla pounces, snatching members of the crew between her jaws.
    — Chris Moody, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026
Definition of snatching
Verb
  • The film revolves around a crew of motorcycle thieves who begin stealing priceless antiquities around the world.
    — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The ticket Lockhart is accused of stealing had a prize value of $2,600, per the affidavit.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of stealing

Browse Nearby Words

seizes
seizing
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Cite this Entry

“Seizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seizing. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on seizing

Nglish: Translation of seizing for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about seizing

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