grope

verb

\ ˈgrōp

groped; groping

Definition of grope

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to feel about blindly or uncertainly in search grope for the light switch

2 : to look for something blindly or uncertainly grope for the right words

3 : to feel one's way groped along the dark passage

transitive verb

1 : feel up claims that her boss tried to grope her

2 : to find (one's way) by groping

grope

noun

plural gropes

Definition of grope (Entry 2 of 2)

: an act of groping made a grope for the light switch And what are these clumsy, embarrassing, fumbling encounters if they are not passes, beery gropes in the dark?— Nick Hornby

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Synonyms for grope

Synonyms: Verb

feel, fish, fumble, scrabble

Examples of grope in a Sentence

Verb

I groped for the light switch. She groped around in her purse, looking for her comb. We groped along the dark passage. She claims that her boss tried to grope her.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Cyrus also made headlines in the last few weeks for speaking out against being groped in Barcelona. — Rachel Yang, EW.com, "Miley Cyrus apologizes for 'racially insensitive' comments about hip-hop," 12 June 2019 Miley Cyrus has spoken out after being groped by a fan in Barcelona. — Kaitlin Reilly, refinery29.com, "Miley Cyrus Addresses Being Groped By Fan In Europe," 5 June 2019 Miley Cyrus was groped by a man while walking through a crowd of people in Barcelona over the weekend. — Carolyn Twersky, Seventeen, "Miley Cyrus Just Called Out Trolls Who Are Blaming Her For Getting Groped and It's So Empowering," 5 June 2019 The report cites nine men in the Wheeling-Charleston diocese who accused Bransfield of touching or groping them, kissing or exposing himself to them or of commenting on their bodies. — The Washington Post, The Mercury News, "Report: W. Va. bishop sent diocese funds to abuse victims," 5 June 2019 Kirsten Gillibrand has actively fought against men who overstep boundaries, and, additionally, not groped anyone herself! — Jennifer Wright, Harper's BAZAAR, "Why Female Presidential Candidates Are Still Overlooked," 18 Apr. 2019 In August 2017, former radio DJ David Mueller was found guilty of groping Taylor Swift during a 2014 pre-concert meet-and-greet in Denver. — Devon Elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "Taylor Swift Candidly Addressed Her Sexual Assault Trial During a Concert," 15 Aug. 2018 Two of the women reported that Hughey groped their breasts or genitals during full-body massages, Hoster said. — Uriel J. Garcia, azcentral, "Scottsdale church hires private firm to examine sex abuse claims," 30 Apr. 2018 Jessica Leeds: Jessica Leeds alleges that Donald Trump groped her during the early 1980s when she was seated next to him in first-class on an airplane. — Lisa Ryan, The Cut, "A Brief History of Trump Insulting Women Who Call Him Out," 27 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'grope.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.