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
Numerous private companies and trusts set up by wealthy individuals for all sorts of reasons, many perfectly legitimate, would be caught in the dragnet of punitive withholding.
—
Alex Raskolnikov, Foreign Affairs, 19 Feb. 2025
The social media arm of the dragnet was run by a lanky, bearded teenager named Himanshu Sharma, who sat cross-legged, a cushion resting between his back and the wall.
—Mohammad Ali, WIRED, 14 Apr. 2020
People from other parts of the would also be caught in the dragnets and deported, causing further economic contraction in the United States.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
More than 1% of the national population is now imprisoned — including children — and conditions are often atrocious, human rights activists say, adding he’s suspended civil rights and conducted massive dragnets that sweep up criminal and innocent alike.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dragnet
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Alex Raskolnikov, Foreign Affairs, 19 Feb. 2025
The social media arm of the dragnet was run by a lanky, bearded teenager named Himanshu Sharma, who sat cross-legged, a cushion resting between his back and the wall.
—Mohammad Ali, WIRED, 14 Apr. 2020
People from other parts of the would also be caught in the dragnets and deported, causing further economic contraction in the United States.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
More than 1% of the national population is now imprisoned — including children — and conditions are often atrocious, human rights activists say, adding he’s suspended civil rights and conducted massive dragnets that sweep up criminal and innocent alike.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dragnet
Cite this Entry
“Dragnet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dragnet. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
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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