catch 1 of 2

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as in to chase
to move fast enough to get even with despite the suspect's considerable lead, the fleet-footed police officer was able to catch him and make an arrest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

catch

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noun

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as in hitch
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized the catch is that you have to come up with the money by tomorrow

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in haul
the total amount collected or obtained especially at one time the total catch for our day at the creek was six fish and a crab

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb catch contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of catch are bag, capture, ensnare, entrap, snare, and trap. While all these words mean "to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing," catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding.

caught the dog as it ran by

Where would bag be a reasonable alternative to catch?

The words bag and catch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.

bagged a brace of pheasants

When is capture a more appropriate choice than catch?

While the synonyms capture and catch are close in meaning, capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.

capture an enemy stronghold

How are the words entrap and ensnare related as synonyms of catch?

Both entrap and ensnare more often are figurative.

entrapped the witness with a trick question
a sting operation that ensnared burglars

How is trap related to other words for catch?

Trap, snare, entrap, and ensnare imply seizing by some device that holds the one caught at the mercy of the captor. Trap and snare apply more commonly to physical seizing.

trap animals
snared butterflies with a net

Examples 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 catch
Verb
Jackson then put his hands out late to catch it and get two feet down in bounds for a 37-yard completion. Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 7 Nov. 2024 Climb the cabin’s scenic watchtower to scout for wildlife like ospreys, bald eagles, and deer, or catch more flora and fauna from the nearby hiking jaunts, including six-mile out-and-back Snoopers Rock Trail, roughly a 30-minute drive away. Stephanie Vermillion, Outside Online, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
The 73-yard drive included passes of 27 and 14 yards to Watkins, who scored on a 3-yard touchdown catch with 5 seconds left in the half. Matt Jones, arkansasonline.com, 2 Nov. 2024 Beckham, now a footwear free agent, famously saw his popularity skyrocket after his one-handed catch, also at Metlife Stadium. Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for catch 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch
Verb
  • The addition will mean RTP will continue to have a place to grab barbecue after Lawrence Barbecue's owners decided to leave Boxyard RTP for downtown Cary.
    Zachery Eanes, Axios, 18 Nov. 2024
  • After the tree lights up the night, the park will be open for visitors to check out the exhibits and grab some holiday treats.
    Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 18 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • What typical purchases will likely get pricier during the next Trump era?
    Melvin Backman, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
  • Almost half of real-estate agents in the country got into the business in the last five years, buoyed by buyers who did not seem aware of how the system worked.
    Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Donations dwindle, while volunteers from the opposite side of the country stop coming or divert to another disaster.
    Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Nov. 2024
  • Johnny can’t stop holding onto his baggage with Kreese, but Daniel is dealing with something even bigger.
    Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Ohioans made their voices heard on Election Day, casting votes to secure Republican wins in the White House, U.S. Senate, Ohio Supreme Court and more.
    Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 20 Nov. 2024
  • In April, Golden Goose secured the advice of a savvy luxury industry professional, as former Gucci president and CEO Marco Bizzarri joined the board of directors, flanking the likes of former Chanel global CEO Maureen Chiquet, who was named chair of the company in 2020.
    Luisa Zargani, WWD, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Two items better known for cleaning swimming pools and moisturizing dry skin might help protect the Earth’s corals and decrease antibiotic resistance and pollution in the ocean.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
  • Gaetz, a Trump loyalist known for being a rabble-rouser in Congress, has a law degree and briefly practiced law in Florida before entering politics, but has never worked as a prosecutor.
    Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The tools take advantage of Generative adversarial networks, which, in essence, try to trick the AI algorithm with incorrect (i.e., adversarial) data.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
  • The stunning corruption scheme finally came to an end in September 2013, when authorities tricked his NCIS mole into thinking the most serious investigations had been closed and then invited Francis to San Diego for a meeting with Navy officials.
    Alex Riggins, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Most who have encountered him want to put the Han Lo experience behind them.
    Suzanne Seggerman, Curbed, 14 Nov. 2024
  • Midway through the first episode of Say Nothing, Dolours Price encounters a fiery scene in West Belfast: a mob of Northern Irish citizens chucking petrol bombs at a police barracks.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Diners will soon notice new lighting at the restaurants and new music as part of Adamolekun’s efforts to attract younger customers who might have grown up going to the chain but haven’t been back for some time.
    CNN.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • Some Mail users may notice that the change has already been implemented, and clicking on Mail will open the new Outlook app instead.
    Kate Irwin, PCMAG, 11 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near catch

Cite this Entry

“Catch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

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