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.
He approached, climbed the cottonwood tree and snatched a single pale-blue egg.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026
AI still had hopes of victory going into Monday's match, and would have snatched the weekly win if the final score had been 1-1, not 2-2.
From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026
But Tammy Abraham then snatched a point for Villa two minutes from time.
From Barron's • Feb. 21, 2026
Additionally, Lucas and Coppola’s friendship frayed when the latter snatched back the directing gig for a film he had long ago promised to his buddy.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026
They jerked the table back, snatched away the rug, and tugged open the trapdoor.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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.
