clasp 1 of 2

noun

ˈklasp How to pronounce clasp (audio)
Definition of claspnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

clasp

2 of 2

verb

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of clasp
Noun
Bieber styled the dress with peep-toe heeled sandals, diamond earrings, an olive-green Gucci handbag with a gold clasp, and a cocktail topped with a wedge of lime. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 30 Aug. 2026 Scratch a gold chain, break a clasp, or lose the other half of an earring and, at least in theory, the material itself hasn’t lost its worth. — Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
In a 1987 article for the New York Times, Albuquerque jewelry salesman Manny Goodman recalls seeing Native Americans wearing bandanas clasped with silver conches as early as the 1930s. — Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 31 Aug. 2026 The new mothers clasped their babies close as a pack of teenagers ran through the park. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for clasp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clasp
  1. grip
  2. hug
  3. hold
  4. grasp
  5. cradle
  6. take
Noun
  • Hamas, Islamic Jihad and a faction led by former Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan have formed an unlikely electoral alliance that could challenge President Mahmoud Abbas’ grip on Palestinian politics.
    — Abby Sewell, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • But tensions quickly escalate and their grip on the situation begins to slip.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of grip
Verb
  • After the game, where Wilson dominated yet again, leading all scorers with 36 points, along with 10 rebounds, Wilson was seen hugging team owner Mark Davis, as well as friends, and her mother, Eva Rakes Wilson.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • At least that seems to be the bet Meta and OpenAI are making amid all the AI doomerism talk, giving their new AI agents faces people might want to hug.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of hug
Verb
  • Elections for mayors and city councilors are also held every four years, but in different years.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • However, each side holds that the Yemeni civil war has now entered a new phase from which neither side looks eager to extricate itself.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of hold
Noun
  • And for the first time, applicants for permanent residency will be evaluated based on their Japanese language skills as well as their grasp of rules and customs.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026
  • She’s praised for her strong sense of story, as well as her grasp of power politics.
    — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of grasp
Verb
  • The device features flexible side wings that can fold inward to cradle the head and neck.
    — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
  • While standard flip-flops are generally relatively flat, these are made with plenty of arch support, along with deep heel cups to cradle your feet for full-day comfort.
    — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2026
Definition of cradle
Verb
  • Chandler primarily uses his guitars to produce radar sweeps of drone, which allows Schwendener’s bass to take full responsibility for Beat’s melodies.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Then last year, during the mass federal government turnover, Brower took a buyout from her job as a public health consultant, and Simone said their position with the General Services Administration was eliminated.
    — KYLE MELNICK THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of take

Browse Nearby Words

clash (with)
clasp
clasped
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clasp. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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