as in seizes
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 grabs
Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Another strong Lions performance could mark a turning point this season where Detroit grabs control of the division and doesn't look back.
—Nick Meyer, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
The trendy Canadian contemporary women’s fashion and accessories boutique grabs Instagram attention with its in-house brands Wilfred, TNA and Babaton.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
Impressive as that is, though, forestalling a hostage situation is not really in her wheelhouse, and Nolan grabs Summerville’s gun, kicking out Elsbeth and Summerville while trapping the store’s staff and one customer.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Never one to sit idly by, Danny grabs his NYPD shield and goes bulldozing his way to the crime scene.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
And then Rising walks away, grabs the iPad and motions for Mayer to join him.
—Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
With Arch Bug on their tails, and not knowing whether their son has hired their time-traveling gene, Henry grabs Julia at the last second and presses all of their hands to the stones at the same time.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2025
But Henry grabs Julia at the last moment and presses all of their hands to the stones at once.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025
Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025
Paris is in a tizzy over recent smash and grabs at the Louvre and elsewhere.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
The two spots up for grabs in the Heat’s starting lineup went to Mitchell and forward Nikola Jovic in the opener.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Styles vary, too, with everything from baby clothes to loungewear sets to ultra-warm layering pieces up for grabs.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2025
Steeple Times published screen grabs purporting to show Hervey's comments, said to have been published to her Instagram Stories.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Wu also is backing candidate Alexandra Valdez, her director of cultural affairs, who finished sixth in the preliminary election and faces an uphill battle at winning one of the four seats up for grabs.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
Remaining unclaimed playoff spots The final two playoff spots in the Western Conference are up for grabs, with FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake, the Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquakes all stumbling towards the finish line.
—Tom Bogert, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Not that there’s a whole lot of airtime still up for grabs; as NBC noted earlier this month, nearly all of its in-game NBA inventory was auctioned off during the spring upfront bazaar … although naturally the company is holding a percentage of units back to sell in the scatter market.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
After Grace quotes Zooey Deschanel's character, Thames grabs her face and kisses her out of the frame.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Another strong Lions performance could mark a turning point this season where Detroit grabs control of the division and doesn't look back.
—Nick Meyer, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
The trendy Canadian contemporary women’s fashion and accessories boutique grabs Instagram attention with its in-house brands Wilfred, TNA and Babaton.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
Impressive as that is, though, forestalling a hostage situation is not really in her wheelhouse, and Nolan grabs Summerville’s gun, kicking out Elsbeth and Summerville while trapping the store’s staff and one customer.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Never one to sit idly by, Danny grabs his NYPD shield and goes bulldozing his way to the crime scene.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
And then Rising walks away, grabs the iPad and motions for Mayer to join him.
—Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
With Arch Bug on their tails, and not knowing whether their son has hired their time-traveling gene, Henry grabs Julia at the last second and presses all of their hands to the stones at the same time.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2025
But Henry grabs Julia at the last moment and presses all of their hands to the stones at once.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
Other offerings up for grabs include a Patek Philippe World Time ref.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025
Paris is in a tizzy over recent smash and grabs at the Louvre and elsewhere.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
The two spots up for grabs in the Heat’s starting lineup went to Mitchell and forward Nikola Jovic in the opener.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Styles vary, too, with everything from baby clothes to loungewear sets to ultra-warm layering pieces up for grabs.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2025
Steeple Times published screen grabs purporting to show Hervey's comments, said to have been published to her Instagram Stories.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Wu also is backing candidate Alexandra Valdez, her director of cultural affairs, who finished sixth in the preliminary election and faces an uphill battle at winning one of the four seats up for grabs.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
Remaining unclaimed playoff spots The final two playoff spots in the Western Conference are up for grabs, with FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake, the Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquakes all stumbling towards the finish line.
—Tom Bogert, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Not that there’s a whole lot of airtime still up for grabs; as NBC noted earlier this month, nearly all of its in-game NBA inventory was auctioned off during the spring upfront bazaar … although naturally the company is holding a percentage of units back to sell in the scatter market.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grabs
Verb
-
Dolores notices they are gone and begins to lash out, and Abby seizes an opportunity to knock Dolores out.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Continue reading … CRYPTO CRACKDOWN – DOJ seizes record $15 billion in Bitcoin in largest US forfeiture ever.—
,
FOXNews.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Beccuau said investigators from a special police unit in charge of armed robberies, serious burglaries and art thefts made the arrests.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Asked about the employee and the thefts, Avis Budget released a statement only saying that company officials were aware of the allegations and cooperating with airport police in the investigation.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
His grandfather, Leroy Hanlon, frustrated by this hesitancy, snatches the instrument out of Mike’s hand and carries out the deed himself.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Wednesday then rescues Pugsley as Gomez and Morticia arrive, but before the family can properly reunite, Isaac snatches Wednesday into his telekinetic grip, choking her.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Alphonse Pierre’s Off the Dome column covers songs, mixtapes, albums, scenes, snippets, movies, Meek Mill tweets, fashion trends—and anything else that catches his attention.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The six catches ties for second-most in a game for Mims in his career.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
An aerial shot of the eastern hideout captures it as a mere speck beneath an expansive tree canopy.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The story captures the dilemma between the ephemeral and the eternal inherent in any attempt to pin down the soul.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The rollout begins next week (Thursday, October 30), before the special then lands on Nickelodeon and Paramount+ where those services are available.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The mega-health insurers are leading the charge for more subsidies because this money lands right in their pockets.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After Lazio at the weekend, the algorithm gets kinder.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grabs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grabs. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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