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

The investigation into Vance dates back to March 2015, when the Manhattan district attorney declined to prosecute Weinstein after Italian model Ambra Battilana accused the mogul of groping her. — Andrew O'reilly, Fox News, "Longtime Weinstein lawyer's firm donated $25G to Governor Cuomo's re-election campaign," 29 Aug. 2018 According to a criminal complaint, Frede groped two then-13-year-old sisters whom he was supposed to be giving private basketball lessons. — Steven Martinez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Prosecutors demand speedy trial as case of Nashotah man accused of groping teen sisters is delayed again," 19 Apr. 2018 Women described groping , a constant flow of harassment, molestation and even rape. — Sarah Stankorb, Glamour, "Are Hashtags Like #MeToo and #BelieveWomen Hurting or Helping Survivors?," 15 Oct. 2018 Corsi mentioned in his email to Stone began on October 8, 2016 — just hours after the Washington Post published audio of Trump bragging about groping women. — Aaron Rupar, Vox, "The story Jerome Corsi is now telling about WikiLeaks is exceedingly hard to believe," 29 Nov. 2018 Francis in July ordered McCarrick, 88, to a lifetime of penance and prayer pending the outcome of a canonical trial into the groping allegation involving a teenage altar boy in the 1970s. — Frank Miles, Fox News, "Pope to meet with head of US Bishops' Conference over sex abuse, cover-up scandal," 12 Sep. 2018 In July, Francis ordered McCarrick, 88, to observe a lifetime of penance and prayer pending the outcome of a canonical trial into the groping allegation involving a teenage altar boy in the 1970s. — Nicole Winfield, The Seattle Times, "Pope to meet US bishops Thursday over abuse scandal," 11 Sep. 2018 Garcia has long denied the groping allegation, and on Thursday, the Assembly said the man's claim was not substantiated. — Taryn Luna And Alexei Koseff, sacbee, "'Campaign will continue' against California lawmaker after harassment investigation ends | The Sacramento Bee," 18 May 2018 Decades later, the blouse appeared again in the news when First Lady of the United States Melania Trump wore a pink Gucci top in the style shortly after her husband was caught on tape bragging about groping women. — Alyssa Hardy, Teen Vogue, "Meghan Markle Wore a Pussy Bow for Her Arrival in Windsor Ahead of the Royal Wedding," 17 May 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.