Specifically, bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.īagged a brace of pheasants When is capture a more appropriate choice than catch? The words bag and catch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. While all these words mean 'to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing,' catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding.Ĭaught the dog as it ran by Where would bag be a reasonable alternative to catch? Some common synonyms of catch are bag, capture, ensnare, entrap, snare, and trap. Frequently Asked Questions About catch How does the verb catch contrast with its synonyms?