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capture

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noun

as in prisoner
one that has been taken and held in confinement a Spanish treasure ship was the most valuable capture ever taken by that privateer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb capture contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of capture are bag, catch, ensnare, entrap, snare, and trap. While all these words mean "to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing," capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.

capture an enemy stronghold

In what contexts can bag take the place of capture?

In some situations, the words bag and capture are roughly equivalent. However, bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.

bagged a brace of pheasants

When is catch a more appropriate choice than capture?

The words catch and capture are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 capture?

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 capture?

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 capture
Verb
Here’s my list of all seven major pathways getting us from contemporary AI to the treasured AGI: (1) Linear path (slow-and-steady): This AGI path captures the gradualist view, whereby AI advancement accumulates a step at a time via scaling, engineering, and iteration, ultimately arriving at AGI. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025 The models won't capture exactly how tariffs will affect consumers. Courtney Reagan, CNBC, 5 June 2025
Noun
Officials said tips from the public led to the capture of three of the escapees. Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 29 May 2025 Romano didn’t quote any figures for the potential capture, but Defensa Central, citing anonymous sources, reported that Madrid will offer a maximum of $34 million (€30 million) for the full back’s services. Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for capture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capture
Verb
  • In New Jersey, whichever party won the presidential race the year prior, in this case the Republican Party, typically loses gubernatorial elections in the following year as voters buck the party in power in Washington, D.C. THE NEXT SWING STATE?
    Annabella Rosciglione, The Washington Examiner, 7 June 2025
  • The Spaniard won 14 of his 22 major titles at Roland Garros.
    Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
Verb
  • Appeal To All Five Senses People still like going out, meeting others and grabbing coffee.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • Scott grabbed some pizza and returned to park her Subaru near the West Shore Market to wait for Serafini.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • Around 30,000 children are among those being held as prisoners.
    Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 1 June 2025
  • The law was meant to both reduce the sentences for non-violent prisoners, many of whom are first time offenders, by up to a year and also give them the opportunity to serve more of their sentence under strict conditions in the community.
    Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Verb
  • Vogue may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers.
    Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 29 May 2025
  • Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • Three days later, as the young boy recovers, a 17-year-old was caught and charged for the alleged shooting.
    Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 4 June 2025
  • Owners caught in a downward spiral don’t have an incentive to pay bills and operate the building.
    Shimon Shkury, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • The show lost Samantha (under less than amicable circumstances), as well as actress Kim Cattrall, and gained a number of supporting characters of color.
    Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 30 May 2025
  • Last year, Gmail gained the ability to summarize emails on demand.
    Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • Arrests made, guns seized after 5 musicians found dead near U.S. border Feds charge California man with threatening to kill Trump on Facebook Cold Case DNA Florida Emily Mae Czachor Emily Mae Czachor is a news editor at CBSNews.com.
    Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 3 June 2025
  • Morena overhauled the court system late last year, fueling protests and criticism that the reform is an attempt by those in power to seize on their political popularity to gain control of the branch of government, that was until now, out of their reach.
    MARÍA VERZA, Arkansas Online, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • Since its inception, cumulative membership dues pales next to the billions reaped from SATs and AP exams since 1990.
    Scott White, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • Chicago’s Building Better Futures Center for the Arts, an organization that offers mental health services and education programs for underprivileged youth, will reportedly reap the benefits of his payout.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Capture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capture. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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