1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
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 With its stylish design, magnetic clasp, and multiple colorways, this high-quality passport and document holder also makes a great gift for the travelers in your life. — Annita Katee, Travel + Leisure, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
The new mothers clasped their babies close as a pack of teenagers ran through the park. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026 In 1975, as Cold War tensions thawed, an American commander and his Soviet counterpart clasped hands in space after their spacecraft docked. — Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 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
  • One panel was falling, then smashing on the path, lead relinquishing its long grip on the glass.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Blood work showed significant increases in serotonin, melatonin and nitric oxide concentrations, and exercise testing showed gains in grip strength and reaction time.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of grip
Verb
  • Michael does have a nice moment with Joe in this man wine cave about Joe standing up for him at the round table, and they hug.
    — Alice Burton, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Garlin was accused by members of the cast and crew of inappropriate verbal conduct, unwanted physical contact, including hugging and touching, and behavior that some employees described as creating an uncomfortable work environment.
    — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of hug
Verb
  • Other events to attend include CULTURA Fiesta Latina held every September to celebrate Latin culture through food, music, dance, and programming and the Christkindl Markt, which brings a festive European-style market to to town.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The Reddies held the Muleriders (1-3, 1-3) to 38 yards and no first downs in the first half.
    — Erick Taylor, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of hold
Noun
  • The government has declined to provide an explanation of how Diamantis managed to slip their grasp and make his way to Florida, the Bahamas, London, and Greece.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Polls open for the Duma ballot on 18 September – the first parliamentary election since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine – and, despite ever greater public opposition to the war, Vladimir Putin’s grasp on power is unlikely to be shaken.
    — Will Barker, TheWeek, 17 Sep. 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
  • Take down the fence when the season opens and take your toll.
    — Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Martha and her mother Maria Alberto Gonzalez and his wife, Catalina Gonzalez, remember taking two buses and a train from their home on the North Side to get to the restaurant in the late 1960s.
    — Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 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 27 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All