1
as in nettings
a fabric made of strands loosely twisted, knotted, or woven together at regular intervals
the basketball didn't go into the basket—it just hit the net
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in traps
a device or scheme for capturing another by surprise
drug runners caught in an elaborate net set by the police
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in tangles
something that catches and holds
caught in a net of palace intrigues
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in earnings
the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received
his net for the year was about 60% of his total income
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hearts
the central part or aspect of something under consideration
the net of the report on race relations is that things are better but not good enough
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in meshes
to catch or hold as if in a net
the kite was stubbornly netted in the branches of the willow tree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grabs
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
a police sting that netted drug dealers from all parts of the city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nets
Isabel Lopez, Parents, 11 Feb. 2026
The staff had bored holes in the nearby ice to set nets for whitefish and turbot.
—Boris Fishman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
Over the past year, a growing number of nets have been strung up.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
Lifeguards watch over this stretch of the Gulf of Mexico, and family-friendly amenities include a playground, volleyball nets, and restrooms.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026
In 2018, Honnold’s 3,000-foot ascent of the El Capitan summit’s rock face in Yosemite National Park in California without the use of ropes or nets was chronicled in the Oscar-winning documentary feature Free Solo.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Polling finds young Americans often use the term to signal support for stronger safety nets, public healthcare, and checks on corporate power, while still endorsing free enterprise and entrepreneurship.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
The ocean blue dining room is as enchanting as ever, adorned with fish nets and twinkle lights.
—Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
That’s how Alex Honnold describes the challenge of ascending one of the world's tallest buildings without any ropes or nets.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
Tom Bogert, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Suno users generate 7 million new tracks a day, which every two weeks nets out to about as many songs as exist on Spotify.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2025
The good news is that there are still some last-chance Cyber Monday deals, such as this fantastic Walmart deal, which nets you over $1000 off the Sony A7R V camera.
—Chris McMullen, Space.com, 2 Dec. 2025
That money nets him a seafood feast in the French port city of Marseille.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
Each player on the winning team nets $530,933 this season, while players on the second-place team receive $212,373.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 8 Nov. 2025
There’s no time like the present to copy Reese Witherspoon’s loungewear look — Spanx is running a bundle deal that nets you two items for 15 percent off.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
For Kappahl, Hedin continued, staying within a consistent style—rather than trend chasing—nets a greater intersectional gain.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 8 Sep. 2025
Nothing that nets to any new hirings given the federal government wipeout, the decline and fall of Biden’s pet projects, and the creation of meager health-care jobs and some small AI data center construction.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
Snowflakes drift down like tiny nets, moving slowly and exposing lots of surface area, gathering more pollutants than fast-falling raindrops.
—Isabel Lopez, Parents, 11 Feb. 2026
The staff had bored holes in the nearby ice to set nets for whitefish and turbot.
—Boris Fishman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
Over the past year, a growing number of nets have been strung up.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
Lifeguards watch over this stretch of the Gulf of Mexico, and family-friendly amenities include a playground, volleyball nets, and restrooms.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026
In 2018, Honnold’s 3,000-foot ascent of the El Capitan summit’s rock face in Yosemite National Park in California without the use of ropes or nets was chronicled in the Oscar-winning documentary feature Free Solo.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Polling finds young Americans often use the term to signal support for stronger safety nets, public healthcare, and checks on corporate power, while still endorsing free enterprise and entrepreneurship.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
The ocean blue dining room is as enchanting as ever, adorned with fish nets and twinkle lights.
—Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
That’s how Alex Honnold describes the challenge of ascending one of the world's tallest buildings without any ropes or nets.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
Orlando striking a deal now nets the club some financial windfall rather than losing him on a free transfer.
—Tom Bogert, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Suno users generate 7 million new tracks a day, which every two weeks nets out to about as many songs as exist on Spotify.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2025
The good news is that there are still some last-chance Cyber Monday deals, such as this fantastic Walmart deal, which nets you over $1000 off the Sony A7R V camera.
—Chris McMullen, Space.com, 2 Dec. 2025
That money nets him a seafood feast in the French port city of Marseille.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
Each player on the winning team nets $530,933 this season, while players on the second-place team receive $212,373.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 8 Nov. 2025
There’s no time like the present to copy Reese Witherspoon’s loungewear look — Spanx is running a bundle deal that nets you two items for 15 percent off.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
For Kappahl, Hedin continued, staying within a consistent style—rather than trend chasing—nets a greater intersectional gain.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 8 Sep. 2025
Nothing that nets to any new hirings given the federal government wipeout, the decline and fall of Biden’s pet projects, and the creation of meager health-care jobs and some small AI data center construction.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nets. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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