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
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
That means the entire Trump campaign could have been in the F.B.I. dragnet.
—Charlie Savage, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
People from other parts of the world would also be caught in the dragnets and deported, causing further economic contraction in the United States.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
The messages said the U.S. Border Patrol was conducting an indiscriminate dragnet in the area, pulling over vehicles presumed to be carrying immigrants to work and taking dozens into custody.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for dragnet 
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Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2025
That means the entire Trump campaign could have been in the F.B.I. dragnet.
—Charlie Savage, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
People from other parts of the world would also be caught in the dragnets and deported, causing further economic contraction in the United States.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
The messages said the U.S. Border Patrol was conducting an indiscriminate dragnet in the area, pulling over vehicles presumed to be carrying immigrants to work and taking dozens into custody.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for dragnet
Dictionary Entries Near dragnet
Cite this Entry
“Dragnet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dragnet. Accessed 22 Feb. 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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