snatched
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of snatched
First recorded in 1990–95; origin uncertain; possibly from regional American snatching “attractive” (1962); possibly from Black drag culture, where stage performers wear weaves (artificial hairweaves), and if something is amazingly good ( snatched ), it may snatch one's weave off, knock one's socks off (but the connection is unclear)
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When freedom was snatched away, Elizabeth Turner’s mother fought back, and changed the Constitution.
From Slate ● Jul. 25, 2026
They snatched real credentials, sneaked around in different systems and eventually grabbed at least some of the information they were after.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
All of items, sold individually, were snatched up by Wednesday within 24 hours of sales starting: water bottle caps, ring pop candy, police caution tape, straws, utensils -- as well as a single left AirPod.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
Mercedes driver George Russell controversially snatched pole position at the Austrian Grand Prix from Ferrari's Charles Leclerc with the last lap of the session.
From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026
Penelope snatched the page from Veronika in a sudden fury.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
