as in rapes
the unlawful or forcible carrying away of a person or animal
to the police chief, it didn't look like a snatch, but another case of a bride-to-be getting cold feet
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in grabs
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 snatches
Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
And so, the film’s spartan spell is undone by snatches of pedestrian drama and goofy, surreal symbolism.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2025
The major achievement of Ozon’s film is to adapt literature without literalizing (there are just two snatches of narration that are directly lifted from source), and to honor the novel’s mystery without trying to solve it.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
There’s much for delight, but the drama lost steam in a confusing episode near the end, when a Snake (portrayed by Abrahamse) snatches the Prince away.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
Maisie is a throw-away child in 1910, captivated by a poster of a magical French carousel, when an aunt snatches her out of poverty and takes her into the home of her wealthy employer, a British lord.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
The ribbed-trim detailing already sets it apart, while the subtle shaping at the waist snatches every figure.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
Annahstasia, Tether Annahstasia Enuke’s voice — by turns a breathily bassy and sweetly soaring instrument — snatches you sideways across time.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
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
And just when the woman and the cookie are about to share a kiss, a hand reaches in from above and snatches the cookie from the scene.
—Moná Thomas, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
The three compressions are Spanxsmooth Swim, which is light compression for barely there smoothing; Spanxshape Swim, medium compression for a little more tummy control and shaping, and Spanxsculpt Swim, strong compression that cinches and snatches.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
And so, the film’s spartan spell is undone by snatches of pedestrian drama and goofy, surreal symbolism.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2025
The major achievement of Ozon’s film is to adapt literature without literalizing (there are just two snatches of narration that are directly lifted from source), and to honor the novel’s mystery without trying to solve it.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
Cinematographer Tim Ives snatches his rare opportunities to shoot the beautiful scenery, but most of the pair’s encounters take place in or near Ledger’s orange pickup truck, a totem from the book.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
There’s much for delight, but the drama lost steam in a confusing episode near the end, when a Snake (portrayed by Abrahamse) snatches the Prince away.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
Maisie is a throw-away child in 1910, captivated by a poster of a magical French carousel, when an aunt snatches her out of poverty and takes her into the home of her wealthy employer, a British lord.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
The ribbed-trim detailing already sets it apart, while the subtle shaping at the waist snatches every figure.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
Annahstasia, Tether Annahstasia Enuke’s voice — by turns a breathily bassy and sweetly soaring instrument — snatches you sideways across time.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
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
And just when the woman and the cookie are about to share a kiss, a hand reaches in from above and snatches the cookie from the scene.
—Moná Thomas, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snatches
Noun
-
The cold case was broken in 2024 when DNA from genetic genealogy connected Gale to the rapes.—
Neal Riley,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Harms was convicted of the 2011 and 2019 rapes in Sacramento Superior Court in 2022.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Chibale grabs a chemistry book off the shelf in his office and riffles through a parade of molecules — each one like an old friend.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
22 Mar. 2026
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Afterward the man with the shotgun points it inside the truck’s cabin and the passenger grabs its barrel, the video shows.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The number comes from a 1999 Department of Justice report that used surveys to estimate missing children cases nationwide under broad definitions, including everything from abductions to runaways to brief scares where a kid gets lost for a couple of hours.—
Stephen Johnson,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The abductions started a little over a decade ago.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The 27-year-old Kmet primarily played in-line (62%) in 2025, but has demonstrated slot production in three straight years of 50-plus catches from 2021 to 2023.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
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The critical detail that catches many retirees off guard is the two-year lookback.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In the '30s, when the Lindbergh baby was abducted, kidnappings and ransoms were so common that high-profile people often secured kidnapping insurance.—
Kase Wickman,
Vanity Fair,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Earnest and intersectional, the spoken word artist’s debut solo album seizes upon the power of club music to preach about gender equality, personal transformation, and communal uplift.—
Jesse Dorris,
Pitchfork,
25 Mar. 2026
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So, when Ozzie (Kyle Bary), a former child star, finds himself in a heap of trouble, Jax seizes the opportunity to spice up her daily routine.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This visual story captures the festival’s scale, atmosphere, fashion and crowd energy throughout the grounds.—
Miami Herald newsroom,
Miami Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
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The deep space image captures a fleeting moment in a titanic struggle that has lasted hundreds of millions of years, as the gravitational influence of the galaxies NGC 4038 and NGC 4039 pulls at one another to create chaos on a truly cosmic scale.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Snatches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snatches. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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