1
as in hugged
to put one's arms around and press tightly
clasped his long-lost sister and cried without restraint
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clasped
Women clasped hands in ring dances.
—
John Leland, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2024
Others clasped their hands in prayer.
—Abby Sewell, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024
By late afternoon, Fernandez is dozing in his chair, mouth agape, hands clasped in his lap.
—Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024
Next to De León was a statue of the church’s namesake, Our Lady of Sorrows, hands clasped and face frozen in misery.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2024
When the town hall ended, Harris went over and clasped hands with Castillo, whose face was still streaked with tears.
—Will Weissert, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2024
At the end of the roughly 30-minute hearing, as the courtroom was cleared of most spectators and press, Combs stood and gave several bows, with his hands clasped, toward family members, who were allowed to stay inside the courtroom.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2024
John Leland, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2024
Others clasped their hands in prayer.
—Abby Sewell, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024
By late afternoon, Fernandez is dozing in his chair, mouth agape, hands clasped in his lap.
—Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024
Next to De León was a statue of the church’s namesake, Our Lady of Sorrows, hands clasped and face frozen in misery.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2024
When the town hall ended, Harris went over and clasped hands with Castillo, whose face was still streaked with tears.
—Will Weissert, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2024
At the end of the roughly 30-minute hearing, as the courtroom was cleared of most spectators and press, Combs stood and gave several bows, with his hands clasped, toward family members, who were allowed to stay inside the courtroom.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clasped
held
Verb
-
During 9/11, people walked down the stairs in single file and held the door open for each other.—
Rascal Kemble-Curry,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Ensign said the Department of Homeland Security is complying with the law during deportations, and people could file challenges individually in Texas, where they were held before being sent to El Salvador.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
22 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clasped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clasped. Accessed 14 Aug. 2025.
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