bag 1 of 2

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2
as in purse
a container for carrying money and small personal items she keeps her keys, phone, and wallet each in separate compartments in her bag so that she always knows where they are

Synonyms & Similar Words

bag

2 of 2

verb

1
2
3
as in to leave
to give up (a job or office) if the supervisor says one more nasty thing to me, I'm going to bag this stupid job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb bag contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of bag are capture, catch, ensnare, entrap, snare, and trap. While all these words mean "to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing," bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.

bagged a brace of pheasants

Where would capture be a reasonable alternative to bag?

The words capture and bag can be used in similar contexts, but capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.

capture an enemy stronghold

When is it sensible to use catch instead of bag?

While in some cases nearly identical to bag, catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding.

caught the dog as it ran by

How do entrap and ensnare relate to one another, in the sense of bag?

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 bag?

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

Example 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 bag
Noun
Pair it with some on-sale Adidas sneakers and a cute $15 crossbody bag that’s nearly half off. Katrina Cossey, Parents, 28 Aug. 2025 The bag is crafted with 100 percent cotton and features the brand’s signature quilted texture that feels soft to the touch. Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
Have them in loose or bagged teas, herbal syrups, and essential oils. Lauren O'Connor, Health, 13 Aug. 2025 Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images The Nittany Lions bagged three receivers via the transfer portal, which should give Allar a better chance of succeeding this coming season. Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bag
Noun
  • Police also found ammunition, a 2x4 wood board with what appeared to be smoke canisters affixed to it and a belt of magazine pouches around the suspect's body.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Types There are a few kinds of laminators out there, including hot laminators, cold laminators, roll laminators and pouch laminators.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The woman had two winning tickets in her purse and decided to go inside the station and cash them, officials said.
    Paloma Chavez, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2025
  • Forget that your Gucci purse will never again suffer smudges from hands soiled by oil or gasoline.
    Mark Phelan, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Tung’s front layers were slicked across the right side of her forehead and brushed behind her ear; her short ends protruded out underneath.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 30 July 2025
  • In person the tremendous symmetry of her face was startling; her cheekbones protruded, and her eyes were far apart.
    Darcey Steinke, Vogue, 27 July 2025
Verb
  • And since Birkenstocks almost never go on sale, this is the time to grab a pair before the season shifts.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2025
  • When the fatigue threshold is hit, a generative AI model can automatically suggest a range of alternative creatives, using insights from predictive models to determine which assets are most likely to grab attention.
    Sergii Denysenko, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Sunglasses and water bottles were strung out around campus during the chaos, leaving a crowded, makeshift lost and found table.
    Shane Brennan, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
  • Detroit doesn’t need recycled ideas or the same politics that have left too many neighborhoods behind.
    Dana Afana, Freep.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Reserve a table and get food and drink specials – league commissioners get $50 Kickback Cards, other team owners get $5 – and have a chance to win $1,000.
    Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 31 Aug. 2025
  • With the last of those, Seattle became the only modern-era Concacaf club champions, winning the the 2022 Concacaf Champions League and temporarily halting Liga MX dominance in the event.
    Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Also earned national recognition for diabetes and endocrinology, securing the No. 50 spot on the Top 50 list.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2025
  • The group earned six Grammy nominations total, including Best Rock Album for 2017’s Emperor of Sand.
    Jason Newman, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Green accounted for 375 total yards when adjusted for sacks.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Parsons has logged double-digit sacks in each of his first four NFL seasons and has accumulated 52.5 in total, making four straight trips to the Pro Bowl to begin his professional career.
    Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bag. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.

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