as in control
the right or means to command or control others
the cult leader had such a death grip on his followers that all orders were carried out without the slightest objection
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Recent Examples of death grip
Detachment creates attachment The death grip on your goals is what's killing them.
—
Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Next, scientists will need to examine Cretaceous leaves for evidence of death grips to see if the prehistoric fungi had evolved to manipulate insects’ behavior during this time, says Jarzembowski in the statement.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 June 2025
Alma clutched her arm and didn’t let go—a death grip.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
The baby boomer death grip continues.
—ABC News, 29 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for death grip
Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Next, scientists will need to examine Cretaceous leaves for evidence of death grips to see if the prehistoric fungi had evolved to manipulate insects’ behavior during this time, says Jarzembowski in the statement.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 June 2025
Alma clutched her arm and didn’t let go—a death grip.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
The baby boomer death grip continues.
—ABC News, 29 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for death grip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for death grip
Noun
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The scale of the Republican Party's triumph in 2024—taking the White House, flipping the Senate and maintaining control of the House—has sparked soul-searching within the Democratic Party over what went wrong, how to rebuild, and party leadership and direction.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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The Philippines is one of Asia’s most flood-prone countries but this year it has also been mired in a massive corruption scandal involving flood control projects that have brought thousands of protesters out onto the streets.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
How to prepare before strong winds approach Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
12 Nov. 2025
-
The Maldives’ own India Out campaign—paradoxically led by Yameen after his electoral defeat to the pro-Indian politician Ibrahim Mohamed Solih—gained traction, casting India as a neo-imperial power.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Stars asserted dominion over their kingdom, their names airbrushed on walls (Bow Wow) and etched into marble floors (Missy Elliott).—
Kim Hew-Low,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
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The history of premodern Southeast Asia, where small kingdoms competed and traded without coming under the dominion of China or India, suggests a different model.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The two became lovers, and headed back Stateside, to Black Mountain College, in North Carolina, where the artist Josef Albers held sway.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
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This would not be an America where the founding ideals hold much sway.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Prabowo was also a military commander during Suharto’s reign and served in controversial campaigns in West Papua and East Timor, casting doubts over his own human rights record.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
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Netanyahu’s most formidable opponent is former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who, from June 2021 to June 2022, interrupted Netanyahu’s 15-year reign.—
Aluf Benn,
Foreign Affairs,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Death grip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/death%20grip. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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