as in grip
the act or manner of holding
be careful that your clasp on the cat isn't too tight, or she could get hurt
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to hug
to put one's arms around and press tightly
clasped his long-lost sister and cried without restraint
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to hold
to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms
clasped a crayon and began drawing
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clasp
Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
The setup relies on a breakaway safety clasp, a small mechanism engineered to pop open under force to prevent strangulation, like the badge lanyards at any conference.
—Eric Sullivan, Scientific American, 21 Feb. 2026
Julia Shapero, The Hill, 27 Feb. 2026
Yet observers quickly noticed that Altman and Amodei, whose companies are widely viewed as competitors in the race to build advanced AI models, did not clasp hands.
—The Ai Insider, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clasp
Noun
Her little foot bears thousands of minute muscular setae that grip and clasp like the toes of a mighty gecko.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
The setup relies on a breakaway safety clasp, a small mechanism engineered to pop open under force to prevent strangulation, like the badge lanyards at any conference.
—Eric Sullivan, Scientific American, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
Altman and Amodei notably declined to clasp hands during a group photo shoot at India’s AI summit last week.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 27 Feb. 2026
Yet observers quickly noticed that Altman and Amodei, whose companies are widely viewed as competitors in the race to build advanced AI models, did not clasp hands.
—The Ai Insider, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clasp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clasp
Noun
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Interestingly, the wristband could accurately predict a wide array of hand positions, from 26 letters of complex American Sign Language signs to the subtle grips required for holding scissors, a tennis ball, or a pencil.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Mar. 2026
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Yet the air campaign, costing billions of dollars, has not forced Iran to capitulate and loosen its grip on the strait.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The rear of the speaker is smartly curved to better hug your body when it is slung over your shoulder, too.—
Mark Knapp,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
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Nothing can replace Bailey or Lady, or fill that empty space in our hearts, but a new companion could hug your heart and help that hole to close and mend.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Lawmakers have been briefed by the State Department and the Pentagon in a classified setting, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Armed Services Committee have yet to hold hearings on the war.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Mar. 2026
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Prosecutors say Agee allegedly held the teen at his home in the 19400 block of Lindsay Street on Detroit's west side.—
Heath Kalb,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Basic actions like grasp, place, open, and close are linked to objects or positions, forcing the system to connect decisions with the physical world.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Mar. 2026
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Even if Ohtani doesn’t quite reach Cy Young heights, a fourth straight MVP is well within his grasp.—
D.J. Short,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Now a new generation can cradle their own.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
24 Mar. 2026
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Cushion Valuables When Moving There's nothing better to cradle your breakable goods when moving or packing items for storage than a pillow.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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He was never accused of any wrongdoing, and a House Ethics Committee investigation opened in 2021 was closed two years later without any action taken.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi Even if not a huge art buff, take the five minutes to wander to the Contarelli chapel inside this small catholic church which is just a short stroll from the Pantheon.—
CNT Editors,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clasp. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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