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
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.
Noun
Already, UnitedHealth Group in May suspended its financial outlook for the rest of the year and replaced its top executive as the parent of UnitedHealthcare grapples with rising healthcare costs in its Medicare Advantage business. Bruce Japsen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025 Acting star Toby Jones has suggested the UK drama sector is going through an existential crisis as its grapples with developments such as the rise of AI and competition from globals streamers as well as growing income barriers for entry into the creative industries. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 June 2025
Verb
Like its rivals, Paramount is grappling with a generational shift in the media sector, with a growing base of consumers accustomed to streaming their favorite programs at moments of their own choosing. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 8 July 2025 Major portions of the East Coast and Northeast are grappling with heat risk as the National Weather Service (NWS) issued widespread advisories and warnings on Monday. Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for grapple

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

Cite this Entry

“Grapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grapple. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

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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