Fighter jets were scrambled to intercept an airliner that deviated from its flight path.
Source: tatoeba (694440)
Intercept
/ɪntəˈsɛpt/
Synonyms for "intercept" (111 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: ambush, anticipate, arrest, arrest, attend.
- Sentence evidence is available for intercept, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "intercept".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "intercept"
Keep "intercept" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "intercept" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "intercept", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "intercept" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
21 entriesShowing 16 of 21 words.
More specific
13 entriesCollocations
11 entriesdata interceptionintercept formintercept theoreminterception pointmessage interceptionpass interceptionsignal interceptiontraffic interceptionx axis interceptx intercepty intercept
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesTranslations
17 translations across 13 languages.
Arabic
1 entries- اِعْتَرَضَ verb (to gain possession of)
Bulgarian
1 entries- пресичам verb (to gain possession of)
Catalan
1 entries- interceptar verb (to gain possession of)
Chinese Mandarin
2 entries- 截奪 /截夺 verb (to gain possession of)
- 搶截 /抢截 verb (to gain possession of)
Dutch
1 entries- onderscheppen verb (to gain possession of)
Finnish
2 entries- riistää verb (to gain possession of)
- siepata verb (to gain possession of)
French
1 entries- intercepter verb (to gain possession of)
German
1 entries- abfangen verb (to gain possession of)
Japanese
1 entries- 奪う verb (to gain possession of)
Polish
1 entries- przechwycić verb (to gain possession of)
Portuguese
1 entries- interceptar verb (to gain possession of)
Russian
2 entries- перехва́тывать verb (to gain possession of)
- перехвати́ть verb (to gain possession of)
Spanish
2 entries- interceptar verb (to gain possession of)
- interrumpir verb (to gain possession of)
Sample sentences
11 total sentences available.
NASA has launched a probe called Dawn, whose mission is to travel to the asteroid belt. It will first travel to observe the asteroid Vesta. After collecting data from Vesta, Dawn will intercept with Ceres where it will observe its surface features and collect data about its chemical composition.
Source: tatoeba (3957485)
France is training eagles to intercept drones.
Source: tatoeba (5894372)
The ship moved into position to intercept the space probe.
Source: tatoeba (11629382)
Showing 4 of 11 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "intercept"?
Closest matches include ambush, anticipate, arrest, arrest, attend.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "intercept"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.