bag 1 of 2

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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

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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

Examples of bag in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Store the mixture in an airtight container or single-serving snack bags for a quick and easy late-night snack. Jillian Kubala, Health, 4 Nov. 2024 But the owner of the building turned out to be kind, leaving food and plastic bags to keep Rogers’ belongings dry. Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
The Hawks bagged two of their chances after going 3-for-3 in Edmonton, Alberta, but 0-for-2 in Calgary. Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2024 Last year, 80 people were sickened and one died in an outbreak of salmonella poisoning tied to bagged diced onions from Gills Onions of Oxnard, California. Jonel Aleccia, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bag 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bag
Noun
  • Though the number of young people using nicotine pouches from brands like Zyn is low overall, the numbers have risen since 2016.
    Mimi Montgomery, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Sold in jars or pouches, Guelaguetza’s mole starters can be purchased individually or in gift boxes; some gift boxes contain only mole, some come with beans and masa, and others include cookbooks by co-owner Bricia Lopez.
    Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • If you’re blessed with a big closet, look for a larger option like this one with deeper pockets and different-size compartments to easily fit purses, winter hats, toiletries, almost anything.
    Lauren Arzbaecher, Architectural Digest, 24 Oct. 2024
  • The 2024 celebrity Closets for Conservation sale will feature hundreds of ready-to-wear clothing, purses, shoes, jewelry and more from the closets of Kate Moss, Julianne Moore, Parker Posey, Janicza Bravo, Natasha Lyonne, Marisa Tomei, Rebecca Hall, Emmy Rossum, Cleo Wade and more.
    Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • The mockup of the insect’s head shows a rough circle adorned with two antennae, a small mandible hidden underneath and eyestalks protruding from the sides.
    Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
  • Joe Raedle | Getty Images News | Getty Images Sisters Molly Coffee, left, and Victoria Coffee, right, work to clean up their home after a tree fell on their house and protruded through their living room and Victoria’s bedroom in Morrow, Georgia on Friday, September 27, 2024.
    Rebecca Picciotto, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2024
Verb
  • Jason Kelce turns around, grabs someone’s cellphone, and spikes it to the ground.
    Andrew Torgan, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
  • So grab your favorite skillet and make good use of that overflowing bag of fruit from your local orchard or farmers market.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Talent and literary agent Andrea Nelson Meigs will be leaving UTA at the end of the year.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024
  • Here’s everything coming to Netflix in November 2024—and what’s leaving.
    Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • All of them stand a chance to win — as long as voters don’t give Metallica their eighth trophy instead.
    Justin Curto, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
  • Expand After an ebullient August Democratic convention, the campaign that Trump had been winning against President Joe Biden seemed to shift in her favor.
    Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Just about all of the Chiefs’ 300 offensive yards were earned.
    Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
  • Since signing a five-year extension worth a maximum of $170 million before the 2023 season, Bosa earns a salary of $1.125 million this season, or $62,500 per week spread out over 18 weeks.
    Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Defensive tackle Chris Williams had a couple of nice pass rushes and collected one of three Bears sacks.
    Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024
  • The pass rusher took a step back this season before being dealt, recording just seven tackles without a sack in five games.
    Vincent Frank, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near bag

Cite this Entry

“Bag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bag. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on bag

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