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
However, some of its customers will have to brace for delays in their orders as the world’s biggest retailer grapples with rerouting its ships due to the Red Sea crisis. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 15 Mar. 2024 In the film, Sonal, a teacher, grapples with a hereditary disease, mirroring her mother’s untimely demise. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 At least two other CVS pharmacies across the Sacramento area have shuttered in the past year as the drug store chain grapples with stagnant profits, according to multiple media reports. Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 10 Feb. 2024 As the sun sets over Martha’s Vineyard, each member of this eclectic group grapples with their own secrets, desires, and challenges, setting the stage for a summer that none of them will ever forget. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 21 Feb. 2024 There, Morty grapples with his own morality and mortality while befriending an… interdimensional fart. Huntley Woods and Christian Holub, EW.com, 17 Oct. 2023 Manzo’s lawsuit comes as the unscripted genre grapples with labor issues and NDAs following Hollywood’s dual 2023 writers and actors strikes and calls for reality TV stars to unionize, focusing on better compensation and working conditions on reality series. Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2024 The county has no maximum temperature for rental units, an issue advocates say leaves vulnerable renters sweltering in the hot months as California grapples with the effects of climate change and extreme heat. Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2024 As Colorado grapples with how prevalent foster parent intervention has become, other states are taking the intervenor concept further. Eli Hager, ProPublica, 16 Oct. 2023
Verb
But given a potential presidential victory for Mr. Trump and growing bipartisan U.S. concern about China’s martial aims, Europe would be wise to grapple with its overall defense posture while bolstering its own collective military might sooner rather than later, analysts say. Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Mar. 2024 This type of habituation is a particular problem, state wildlife authorities say, and officials are still grappling with how to approach the issue. Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024 Not knowing what the future will hold is hard, and the fourth season finale grappled with a question all twenty- and thirtysomethings face at some point: changing dreams. Ew Staff Updated, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2024 Indeed, the recent uptick in Antarctic tourism presents opportunities for bolstering cooperation, as states must grapple with the vast environmental effect polar tourism is having. Elizabeth Buchanan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024 Retailer closing 1,000 stores 03:43 Rising challenges Dollar Tree stores are grappling with consumers who are more likely to shop around for bargains after two years of at times bruising inflation, experts say. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2024 Fellow passengers watched as the men punched and grappled with each other, according to video watched by CNN. Jeff Winter, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 It’s now moved into Republican states as places such as Boise, Idaho, grapple with higher prices. Josh Boak, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024 Planemakers are still grappling with supply chain issues caused by the COVID pandemic. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 15 Mar. 2024

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 28 Mar. 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

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