1
as in netting
a fabric made of strands loosely twisted, knotted, or woven together at regular intervals
the basketball didn't go into the basket—it just hit the net
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Relevance
2
as in trap
a device or scheme for capturing another by surprise
drug runners caught in an elaborate net set by the police
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1
as in profit
the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received
his net for the year was about 60% of his total income
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in root
the central part or aspect of something under consideration
the net of the report on race relations is that things are better but not good enough
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1
as in to trap
to catch or hold as if in a net
the kite was stubbornly netted in the branches of the willow tree
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
a police sting that netted drug dealers from all parts of the city
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of net
Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 23 Oct. 2025
Hallisey drove a shot on net during it and Libby Baxter tipped it for the goal, and a 2-1 deficit.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
James Pearce, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
After a couple runs netted a yard, Stevenson wasn’t touched by a blocker and dropped quarterback Christian Urbina for a 4-yard loss.
—Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for net
Noun
In other words, consumer spending is still strong, accounting for almost 70 percent of United States GDP, median household incomes have been relatively stable for a decade, and poverty slightly down, and household net worth has ballooned since the pandemic by 30 percent.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 23 Oct. 2025
Hallisey drove a shot on net during it and Libby Baxter tipped it for the goal, and a 2-1 deficit.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
Dominik Szoboszlai, who was asked to play deeper alongside Jones, capped a sensational display by firing home their fifth goal from 20 yards out after Cody Gakpo had netted for the third successive game.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
After a couple runs netted a yard, Stevenson wasn’t touched by a blocker and dropped quarterback Christian Urbina for a 4-yard loss.
—Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for net
Cite this Entry
“Net.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/net. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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