CATCH Synonyms: 444 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

catch 1 of 2

verb

ˈkach

Definition of catch

as in to grab

to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly we tried to catch the kitten before she could sneak out the door

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to get

to become affected with (a disease or disorder) you'll catch the flu for sure if you don't get a shot

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as in to stop

to bring (something) to a standstill I caught myself just as I was about to step into the freshly poured concrete

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as in to secure

to put securely in place or in a desired position caught back her hair with a barrette

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as in to know

to have a clear idea of I didn't catch the point you were making about our nation's foreign policy

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as in to trick

to cause to believe what is untrue a number of media outlets were caught by the woman's hard-luck story

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as in to encounter

to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face I'll catch you at the library tomorrow

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as in to notice

to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes I looked out the window just in time to catch the neighbor's dog digging up my flower bed

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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

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fall short

catch

2 of 2

noun

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

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as in prize

someone or something unusually desirable everyone thought the captain of the football team was a real catch

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lemon
loser

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

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 catch

Verb

And so, as everybody’s running backwards, that must be when Heidi was caught. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 Oh, and don’t forget his impact goes beyond catching the ball. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026

Noun

With his second-quarter touchdown catch, Bachmeier became the only FBS quarterback over the last 30 seasons to have rushing and receiving touchdowns against an AP Top 25 opponent. — John Coon, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026 Both of those touchdowns were thrown to tight end Tommy Tremble, who finished with four catches for 46 yards. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for catch

Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch

Verb

Video on social media showed distressed shopkeepers begging young men to stop stealing their inventory—and those young men pushing them aside to grab shoes and food from their shelves.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
One 10-year-old girl, crying and trying to hug her father, was allegedly grabbed by the neck by law enforcement, according to the lawsuit.

— Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of grab

Verb

White said Salvation Brands is not to be confused with the big brand management firms such as Authentic Brands Group and WHP Global, which are getting all the attention these days.

— Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
Waddhwa moved to strike a film development deal around the incident after getting unsolicited inquiries from Indian media firms.

— Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of get

Verb

That has left many companies unable to stop the theft of American IP and made investment riskier.

— Andrei Iancu, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Project Nessie was intended to stop retail price-matching practices from creating unsustainably low prices, the e-commerce giant said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of stop

Verb

Together, these assets show how clean power can become a core part of a balanced and secure energy mix.

— H.E. Dr Abdulla Saif Al Jarwan, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Simmons said prosecutors in Guatemala were integral in securing convictions for Miranda Orozco and others.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of secure

Verb

Depending on the machine and settings, that material ends up in a purge tower built alongside the print, or in a collection of little plastic doll's-house-looking spaghetti balls, affectionately known as printer poop.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
Cringing can therefore manifest as the abashment of not knowing (yet; possibly ever) how to read something.

— Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of know

Verb

Those conducting the online scams are sometimes willing con artists, and other times trafficked foreign nationals -- many Chinese -- tricked themselves into work and held in prison-like compounds.

— CBS News, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
But a few times in recent years, Hollins, a veterinarian, tricked Jonathan and slid a cotton swab into the giant tortoise’s mouth to get a saliva sample.

— Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of trick

Verb

Building repairs can bring equipment or barriers into common areas, and unfinished work may leave a space looking different from the way residents normally encounter it.

— Emma Clapp, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Birds breeding in one part of the continent may travel one route and encounter one set of environmental conditions, while members of the same species experience a completely different set of conditions along another route.

— Amy L. Scarpignato, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of encounter

Verb

Be intentional about noticing autumn and Halloween displays on lawns and porches, which seem as popular as ever this year.

— Dana Kelley, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
They are focused on inspecting what is known as the Taraia Object, a visual anomaly that has been visible in aerial photos dating back to 1938 but was first noticed in satellite imagery in 2020.

— Lana Zak, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of notice

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catcalls

catch

catch-22

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Style

“Catch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of catch

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noun

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Synonyms of catch

verb

noun

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Phrases Containing catch

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Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on catch

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

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Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

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Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

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Games & Quizzes