Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb seize

8 senses of seize

Sense 1
seize, prehend, clutch -- (take hold of; grab; "The sales clerk quickly seized the money on the counter"; "She clutched her purse"; "The mother seized her child by the arm"; "Birds of prey often seize small mammals")
       => take, get hold of -- (get into one's hands, take physically; "Take a cookie!"; "Can you take this bag, please")

Sense 2
seize -- (take or capture by force; "The terrorists seized the politicians"; "The rebels threaten to seize civilian hostages")
       => take, get hold of -- (get into one's hands, take physically; "Take a cookie!"; "Can you take this bag, please")

Sense 3
appropriate, capture, seize, conquer -- (take possession of by force, as after an invasion; "the invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants"; "The army seized the town"; "The militia captured the castle")
       => assume, usurp, seize, take over, arrogate -- (seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession; "He assumed to himself the right to fill all positions in the town"; "he usurped my rights"; "She seized control of the throne after her husband died")

Sense 4
impound, attach, sequester, confiscate, seize -- (take temporary possession of as a security, by legal authority; "The FBI seized the drugs"; "The customs agents impounded the illegal shipment"; "The police confiscated the stolen artwork")
       => take -- (take into one's possession; "We are taking an orphan from Romania"; "I'll take three salmon steaks")

Sense 5
assume, usurp, seize, take over, arrogate -- (seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession; "He assumed to himself the right to fill all positions in the town"; "he usurped my rights"; "She seized control of the throne after her husband died")
       => take -- (take by force; "Hitler took the Baltic Republics"; "The army took the fort on the hill")

Sense 6
seize -- (hook by a pull on the line; "strike a fish")
       => hook -- (catch with a hook; "hook a fish")

Sense 7
seize, clutch, get hold of -- (affect; "Fear seized the prisoners"; "The patient was seized with unbearable pains"; "He was seized with a dreadful disease")
       => overwhelm, overpower, sweep over, whelm, overcome, overtake -- (overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli)

Sense 8
grab, seize -- (capture the attention or imagination of; "This story will grab you"; "The movie seized my imagination")
       => intrigue, fascinate -- (cause to be interested or curious)