gripping

adjective

grip·​ping ˈgri-piŋ How to pronounce gripping (audio)
Synonyms of grippingnext
: taking a powerful hold upon one's interest or feelings
a gripping thriller
Shabba Ranks has a gripping baritone voice that ranges from bedroom purr to locker-room-boast roar.Mark Coleman
grippingly adverb
a grippingly honest performance

Examples of gripping in a Sentence

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.
The ways of the ultra-wealthy come under scrutiny in the gripping three-part documentary series The Oligarch and the Art Dealer, directed by Andreas Dalsgaard. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2026 Her exterior countenance reveals the inner storm in completely believable and gripping ways. Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026 And telling a gripping, poignant, heartbreaking story through that footage and some interviews was outstanding. Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026 Though its director, writer, and star Orson Welles dismissed the movie because it was recut by the studio (indeed, several versions are floating around out there), this is still a gripping post-war crime thriller with great performances and a slick visual style. Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gripping

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gripping was in 1896

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gripping.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gripping. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on gripping

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!

More from Merriam-Webster