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.
Sharpton says some legal residents he encountered around Cleveland feared being "snatched up and deported."
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
Hull's unbeaten start ended at Newcastle last time out but even then they almost snatched a point after going 2-0 down early on.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
Most often, when she seems on the verge of acceptance, happiness is snatched back from her — a nasty game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
Paulina is intent on becoming the school’s nominee for the next Miss Ghana pageant, and, having handily snatched that crown, moving on to an international competition.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
She snatched the phone out of his hand and hung it up, losing patience.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
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.
