1
as in hugged
to put one's arms around and press tightly
clasped his long-lost sister and cried without restraint
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in held
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
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Recent Examples of clasped
With the entire circumference surrounded by a sea of humanity, Bishnoi hung back, her hands clasped in front of her mouth, while Rai went and lofted the Wanamaker Trophy above his head.
—
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
Hands clasped, head bowed, blank and fair of face.
—Literary Hub, 8 May 2026
While the other candidates pressed their palms against the podiums, ready to pounce on every question, Becerra clasped his hands like an altar boy.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Another girl, Donna Jo, apparently naked on a back-yard lawn, holds several small, round pieces of fruit, still on their leafy branch, clasped to her chest like a trophy.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026
Kneeling beside him is a young woman with hands clasped in prayer in this moment of freedom.
—Tyehimba Jess, ARTnews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Harry stood quietly with his hands clasped until one line appeared to resonate deeply.
—Kylie Walters, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
The oversized coat featured a single button along the collar, which Zendaya wore clasped over her cotton-poplin skirt, creating a voluminous silhouette with an airy effect.
—Staff Author, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026
As Keyla ran around the stage in a black dress adorned with crosses, Richie and Palmer clasped their hands in excitement.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
Hands clasped, head bowed, blank and fair of face.
—Literary Hub, 8 May 2026
While the other candidates pressed their palms against the podiums, ready to pounce on every question, Becerra clasped his hands like an altar boy.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Another girl, Donna Jo, apparently naked on a back-yard lawn, holds several small, round pieces of fruit, still on their leafy branch, clasped to her chest like a trophy.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026
Kneeling beside him is a young woman with hands clasped in prayer in this moment of freedom.
—Tyehimba Jess, ARTnews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Harry stood quietly with his hands clasped until one line appeared to resonate deeply.
—Kylie Walters, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
The oversized coat featured a single button along the collar, which Zendaya wore clasped over her cotton-poplin skirt, creating a voluminous silhouette with an airy effect.
—Staff Author, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026
As Keyla ran around the stage in a black dress adorned with crosses, Richie and Palmer clasped their hands in excitement.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clasped
Verb
-
Renewing acquaintances in April, when the Giants visited San Diego this season for the first time, Preller chatted him up and hugged him.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
-
Some collapsed on the ground at the cave’s entrance and were hugged by a group of workers who cried in joy.—
Jintamas Saksornchai,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
And the lecture hall on that campus now features a large, ornate mural of a soccer ball being grasped by the hands of two people — freshly painted by the 2004 Morningside graduate as the city of Inglewood prepares to host eight World Cup games at SoFi Stadium starting next month.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
-
American has grasped that this will be a tournament when travel is experienced through friction as much as glamour, and that a brand which removes the challenges is remembered differently.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
His arm steadied his mother, Gaye, who clung to flowers.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
25 May 2026
-
And the Red Sox, who clung to a one-run lead for most of the night before finally breaking through in a big way in the eighth and ninth, won the series with a resounding 7-1 victory.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
War came in the summer of 1914 because of the all-encompassing fear that had gripped many Great Power leaders, looking for signs that they would be attacked.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
-
We are gripped by financial worry, social decay and political disagreement at a time of deep polarization and alienation.—
Tara Sonenshine,
Baltimore Sun,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Brendan Banfield and the 26-year-old au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, both took the stand during the double-murder trial and offered conflicting accounts about the killings.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
-
Throughout the trial, stress took an enormous toll on Jackson, defense attorney Mark Geragos said in the docuseries.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clasped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clasped. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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