fistful

noun

fist·​ful ˈfist-ˌfu̇l How to pronounce fistful (audio)
1
: handful
a fistful of coins
2
: a considerable number or amount
a whole fistful of musiciansThomas Lask

Examples of fistful in a Sentence

She has won a fistful of awards. repairing the roof is going to cost a fistful of money
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Mexico scored the biggest opening day for an Apple title, ahead of a fistful of comps. Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 28 June 2025 Bacchus, bone-dry, slumps in the center of a stagnant green pool clutching fistfuls of limp grapes; none of the fountains is turned on. Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 5 June 2025 In the footage, she can be seen grabbing a fistful of the other passenger's hair and yanking it toward her. Colson Thayer, People.com, 20 June 2025 The artwork for Man’s Best Friend shows Carpenter on her knees with her hand on a suit-wearing man’s thigh, as that same figure grabs a fistful of her blonde hair. Stephen Daw, Billboard, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for fistful

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fistful was in 1611

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fistful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fistful. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fistful

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!