as in grabbing
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
the brazen seagull snatched the french fry right from my hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of snatching
Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
Many Londoners have firsthand experience of phone-snatching or have witnessed the surge in shoplifting documented by the Office for National Statistics.
—CNN Money, 13 Jan. 2026
Polls show that Londoners broadly feel safe in their town, although property theft, particularly phone snatching and shoplifting, has leapt up in recent years.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Reactions from Moscow and Beijing to Maduro’s snatching have varied.
—Comfort Ero, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Manipulation, threats, acts of physical and psychological violence (to oneself and others), as well as actual body snatching, were all part of Cipher’s brand while Linklater embodied Gen V’s season two big bad.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
While millions are riveted by Sunday’s seven-minute jewelry heist of Napoleonic jewels at the Louvre, another major sizable snatching, the 1990 break-in at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, resurfaced in the news in a different way.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2025
But the chick-snatching wasn't all terror and crib robbery, Parker stressed.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
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
Bargain hunters are snatching up private lending funds in the stock market, eager to buy assets that look cheap by a key measure.
—Olivia Fishlow, Bloomberg, 25 Apr. 2026
Leeds United will go into their FA Cup semi-final on Sunday after snatching a last-gasp 2-2 draw away to Bournemouth to further cement their Premier League status for next season.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026
The open-sea tactic mirrors what the US did when tracking down tankers linked to Venezuela earlier this year – before eventually snatching President Nicolás Maduro in a raid.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
Anthony Davis is facing charges of robbery by sudden snatching with a firearm or weapon and resisting an officer without violence.
—Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
Davis was being held Sunday at the Broward County main jail on charges of robbery by sudden snatching with a firearm or weapon and resisting an officer without violence, jail records show.
—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
North Carolina, Arizona and Florida are also snatching away companies.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
His co-defendant Cristian Montecino-Sanzana pleaded guilty to two counts related to one of the three thefts that Bustamante Leiva admitted — an April 12 purse-snatching at a Nando's restaurant.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
Many Londoners have firsthand experience of phone-snatching or have witnessed the surge in shoplifting documented by the Office for National Statistics.
—CNN Money, 13 Jan. 2026
Polls show that Londoners broadly feel safe in their town, although property theft, particularly phone snatching and shoplifting, has leapt up in recent years.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Reactions from Moscow and Beijing to Maduro’s snatching have varied.
—Comfort Ero, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Manipulation, threats, acts of physical and psychological violence (to oneself and others), as well as actual body snatching, were all part of Cipher’s brand while Linklater embodied Gen V’s season two big bad.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
While millions are riveted by Sunday’s seven-minute jewelry heist of Napoleonic jewels at the Louvre, another major sizable snatching, the 1990 break-in at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, resurfaced in the news in a different way.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2025
But the chick-snatching wasn't all terror and crib robbery, Parker stressed.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
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
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
Bargain hunters are snatching up private lending funds in the stock market, eager to buy assets that look cheap by a key measure.
—Olivia Fishlow, Bloomberg, 25 Apr. 2026
Leeds United will go into their FA Cup semi-final on Sunday after snatching a last-gasp 2-2 draw away to Bournemouth to further cement their Premier League status for next season.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026
The open-sea tactic mirrors what the US did when tracking down tankers linked to Venezuela earlier this year – before eventually snatching President Nicolás Maduro in a raid.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
Anthony Davis is facing charges of robbery by sudden snatching with a firearm or weapon and resisting an officer without violence.
—Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
Davis was being held Sunday at the Broward County main jail on charges of robbery by sudden snatching with a firearm or weapon and resisting an officer without violence, jail records show.
—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
North Carolina, Arizona and Florida are also snatching away companies.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snatching
Noun
-
Jones has been charged with property theft, money laundering and evading arrest, police said.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
-
According to Village East co-op board vice president, Rachel, 57, a bookkeeper who asked to be identified by first name only, many building residents want a video intercom to prevent package theft and increase security.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Jaguars used their first pick of the NFL draft to land the blocking tight end Friday night, grabbing him in the second round with the 56th selection.—
Mark Long,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The Seahawks stayed put yet again at the end of the second round, grabbing TCU safety Bud Clark with the 64th pick.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Chargers’ Ladd McConkey put up a Pro-Bowl caliber campaign in ’24 as a first-year target (82 catches, 1,149 receiving yards, seven scores), while Rashod Bateman’s numbers as a rookie in ’22 were merely serviceable (46 grabs, 515 yards, one TD).—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Kaufman, 13, trains in Muaythai, a combat sport and martial art from Thailand that allows fighters to use their fists, elbows, knees, and shins to hit, grab, or sweep their opponents.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Snatching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snatching. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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