dragnet
noun
drag·net
ˈdrag-ˌnet 
1
a
: a net drawn along the bottom of a body of water
b
: a net used on the ground (as to capture small game)
2
: a network of measures for apprehension (as of criminals)
Examples of dragnet in a Sentence
Nine suspects were caught in the police dragnet.
Recent Examples on the Web
Courtesy Cindy Stevens; Courtesy LaTisha Brown And in Ohio, where lawmakers are pursuing an aggressive Medicaid fraud crackdown, LaTisha Brown, 43, who has cerebral palsy, fears people with legitimate caregiving needs will be caught in the dragnet.
—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
30 June 2026
The records unsealed by a federal district court in Washington within the past month offer a window into how US authorities have used such digital dragnets in criminal investigations and how Google responded.
—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
In collecting the communications of foreign nationals targeted by the intelligence community, Americans' information — including calls, texts and emails — can also be swept up in the dragnet.
—
Eric McDaniel,
NPR,
12 June 2026
To meet dragnet quotas, Trump’s ICE agents have routinely nabbed easy targets – widows, children, asylum seekers and even American citizens – costing taxpayers billions.
—
Lisa Falkenberg,
Houston Chronicle,
12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dragnet
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Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
30 June 2026
The records unsealed by a federal district court in Washington within the past month offer a window into how US authorities have used such digital dragnets in criminal investigations and how Google responded.
—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
In collecting the communications of foreign nationals targeted by the intelligence community, Americans' information — including calls, texts and emails — can also be swept up in the dragnet.
—
Eric McDaniel,
NPR,
12 June 2026
To meet dragnet quotas, Trump’s ICE agents have routinely nabbed easy targets – widows, children, asylum seekers and even American citizens – costing taxpayers billions.
—
Lisa Falkenberg,
Houston Chronicle,
12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dragnet
Cite this Entry
“Dragnet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dragnet. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dragnet
noun
drag·net
ˈdrag-ˌnet
1
: a net dragged along the bottom of a body of water
2
: a series of planned actions for catching a criminal
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