Synonyms for seize
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Grab — to deliberately take hold of; to grab or capture
take, grab, hold, arrest, take hold, nab informal, clutch, grasp, get hold of, snatch, apprehend, grip, catch, seizure, abduct, snap, grapple, hook, pinch, nail, distress, rape
2. Confiscate — to take possession of (by force, law etc.)
confiscate, commandeer, intercept, impound, impress, arrogate, sequester, attach dated
3. Capture
Other
pounce upon, strike, jump on, freeze, possess formal dated
Definitions
- v. 1
To deliberately take hold of; to grab or capture.
- v. 2
To take possession of (by force, law etc.).
to seize a ship after libeling
- v. 3
To take advantage of (an opportunity or circumstance).
- v. 4
To have a sudden and powerful effect upon.
Related words
- Word family
- seizer seizure
- Phrases
- seize on seize up seize the day seize upon
- Other spellings
- seise
Forms
- Past participle
- seized
e.g. seized → taken, grabbed, arrested, nabbed…
Example sentences
- arrest You're under arrest for the murder of Tom Jackson.
- grab In case of fire, I would grab my flute and escape.
- grasp I was able to grasp the main points of the speech.
- confiscate Elias ordered the guard to confiscate Sandra's phone.
- commandeer A man with a gun attempted to commandeer the bus.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| seize | steady | |
| arrest | steady | |
| grab | rising | |
| grasp | rising | |
| confiscate | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- nab1
- 4 letters
- take1, hold1, grab1, rape1, hook1, snap1, nail1, grip1
- 5 letters
- catch1, grasp1, pinch1, usurp2
- 6 letters
- strike1, assume2, arrest2, freeze1, clutch1, attach2, snatch1, abduct2
- 7 letters
- capture2, possess2, impress2, conquer2, seizure2, grapple2, impound2
- 8 letters
- distress2, arrogate3
- 9 letters
- intercept3, apprehend3, sequester3
- 10 letters
- confiscate3, commandeer3
- 11 letters
- appropriate4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (usurp2 = 2 syllables).