gripping

adjective

grip·​ping ˈgri-piŋ How to pronounce gripping (audio)
: 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
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Steven Spielberg can conjure a gripping plot out of thin air — however, for 1982'sThe Poltergeist, the screenwriter had plenty of material to work with. Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025 With Sam Rockwell and Maisy Stella bringing them to life, their dynamic is raw, unexpected, and utterly gripping. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025 Creators Jason Fuchs, Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti keep the series fast-paced and gripping, balancing the jump scares and psychological horror with the quieter but no-less important moments. Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025 The research team also revealed that the robots can change their shape and gait to adapt to different terrains or to perform a variety of functions, such as gripping and lifting objects. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 18 Oct. 2025 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 29 Oct. 2025.

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