1
as in netting
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
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2
as in trap
a device or scheme for capturing another by surprise
drug runners caught in an elaborate net set by the police
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1
as in profit
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
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2
as in root
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
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1
as in to trap
to catch or hold as if in a net
the kite was stubbornly netted in the branches of the willow tree
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2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
a police sting that netted drug dealers from all parts of the city
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Cite this Entry
“Net.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/net. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
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