grapple

1 of 2

noun

grap·​ple ˈgra-pəl How to pronounce grapple (audio)
1
a
: the act or an instance of grappling
b
: a hand-to-hand struggle
locked in a desperate grapple with his foe
c
: a contest for superiority or mastery
their grapple with tyranny
2
: an instrument for grabbing or gripping something: such as
a
: a bucket (as on an excavating machine) having hinged jaws

grapple

2 of 2

verb

grappled; grappling ˈgra-p(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce grapple (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to seize with or as if with a grapple (see grapple entry 1 sense 2)
2
: to grasp with the hands : wrestle
3
: to bind closely

intransitive verb

1
: to make a ship fast with a grappling hook
2
: to begin to understand or deal with something in a direct or effective way
Officials grappled with an increase in violent crimes.
3
: to use a grapple
grappler noun

Examples of grapple in a Sentence

Noun was simply unable to break my opponent's viselike grapple and lost the wrestling match after a grapple with his conscience, he confessed to having an affair Verb two sumo wrestlers grappling like a pair of mammoth bears a crane grappled the sunken boat and hoisted it above water
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
This is especially true in times of budget cuts and greater needs as California grapples with climate disasters and homeless needs. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2024 And Bass Pro Shops and Rev. Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse are also delivering goods and money to relief efforts as the federal government grapples with the disaster and slowly puts officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in place. Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 8 Oct. 2024
Verb
The delivery miss comes as the company grapples with an increasingly competitive EV market, as legacy automakers join the tide and competitors such as Rivian mature their business. Samantha Subin, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2024 The plan is part of her pitch to middle-aged voters who are grappling with the dual cost of raising children and attending to their aging parents. Nik Popli, TIME, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for grapple 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grapple.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English grappel grappling hook, from Old French *grappelle, diminutive of grape hook — more at grape

First Known Use

Noun

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grapple was in 1530

Dictionary Entries Near grapple

Cite this Entry

“Grapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grapple. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

grapple

1 of 2 noun
grap·​ple ˈgrap-əl How to pronounce grapple (audio)
: the act of grappling : grip, hold

grapple

2 of 2 verb
grappled; grappling ˈgrap-(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce grapple (audio)
1
: to seize or hold with or as if with a hooked instrument
2
: to seize and struggle with one another
3
: to attempt to deal
grappled with a problem
grappler noun

More from Merriam-Webster on grapple

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!