as in snatching
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
don't grab my arm like that
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Recent Examples of grabbing
There’s also significant doubt among Republicans as to whether DeSantis will even accomplish the goal of grabbing at least four more seats.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
The shortage started grabbing headlines early last month.
—Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026
All loose balls were property of the Wolves, who outrebounded Denver 50-33, with five guys grabbing at least six.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 1 May 2026
Certain styles even have jewel embellishments for a more attention-grabbing look.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Metcalf was shown by a CBS broadcast grabbing a fan by the shirt and taking a swing at him.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
And putting on a yellow vest over his suit, grabbing a trash bag and using grab claws to pick up cigarette butts and bits of garbage is also important to him, Jones said.
—Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
Broadway, top-heavy with musical parodies and attention-grabbing revivals, is having a strange season by all accounts.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The Celtics shot 43% from deep in the first half while also attempting more field goals and grabbing more rebounds than the 76ers.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
The shortage started grabbing headlines early last month.
—Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026
All loose balls were property of the Wolves, who outrebounded Denver 50-33, with five guys grabbing at least six.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 1 May 2026
Certain styles even have jewel embellishments for a more attention-grabbing look.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Metcalf was shown by a CBS broadcast grabbing a fan by the shirt and taking a swing at him.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
And putting on a yellow vest over his suit, grabbing a trash bag and using grab claws to pick up cigarette butts and bits of garbage is also important to him, Jones said.
—Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
Broadway, top-heavy with musical parodies and attention-grabbing revivals, is having a strange season by all accounts.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The Celtics shot 43% from deep in the first half while also attempting more field goals and grabbing more rebounds than the 76ers.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grabbing
Verb
-
Joaquín Guzmán, a former leader of the Chapitos, confessed to the 2024 kidnapping of Zambada, snatching him at a meeting, flying him by private plane to the United States and handing him over to authorities.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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This adjustable, two-piece lanyard set helps reduce the chances of a passerby or someone speeding by on a scooter from snatching your phone.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Jaden McDaniels and the Minnesota Timberwolves flexed even more of their defensive muscle against the flagging Denver Nuggets, seizing a 2-1 lead in the first-round NBA playoff series with a dominant 113-96 victory on Thursday night.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Multiple videos show a masked federal agent seizing a 57-year-old woman, who says she was put in a chokehold, during the protest in Durango.—
Morgan Lee,
Denver Post,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Chicago White Sox have been searching for offensive production from the catching position.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Sophomore Nate Roberts is a 6-5, 240-pounder who has blocking experience and showed off versatility catching passes in the spring.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Six years later, after months of military buildup in the Caribbean, the United States launched an unprecedented military operation in Venezuela, bombing Caracas and capturing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from the Presidential Palace.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
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From Edward Steichen to Annie Leibovitz, Vanity Fair has been capturing the greatest physical forms in sport, fitness, and dance for a century.—
Jonathan Pace,
Vanity Fair,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Plane tickets are getting pricier After jumping to $209 a barrel in early April, the global price of jet fuel eased last week to around $179, still well above the roughly $99 at the end of February.—
Mae Anderson,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
Since getting sober, Holland's life has been a whirlwind.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
For Roseman, the value of landing a top-15 player in the first round trumped the extra dart throws in the fourth round.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The pair collided with such force that Dumoulin got knocked up about two feet in the air before landing hard on his padded backside.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
What’s the secret sauce for snagging him for a project?—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Dan Quinn takes the draft’s top cornerback by snagging Delane off the board to help a secondary that was somehow worse than the Cowboys’ pass defense a year ago.—
Nick Harris
April 20,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grabbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grabbing. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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