1
as in hugging
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 holding
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 clasping
Next page, clasping hands with Schweitzer in her satin, white wedding dress with a rose bouquet.
—
Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
After arriving on the scene, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey ran toward the sanctuary and was later seen clasping his hands outside on the church steps.
—Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Parents, some in tears, walked from the school, clasping their kids by the hands or carrying them out on their shoulders.
—Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2025
The two took a few moments to pose on the red – well, beige – carpet together, sharing an embrace, clasping hands and admiring each other's outfits (Johnson was in Gucci).
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
The Everybody's Live with John Mulaney host, 42, sits on the bed, wearing a surgical mask and clasping Munn's hands in his.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Olea stood in the court room Thursday in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs, clasping his own hands.
—Ana Claudia Chacin, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2025
Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
After arriving on the scene, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey ran toward the sanctuary and was later seen clasping his hands outside on the church steps.
—Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Parents, some in tears, walked from the school, clasping their kids by the hands or carrying them out on their shoulders.
—Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2025
The two took a few moments to pose on the red – well, beige – carpet together, sharing an embrace, clasping hands and admiring each other's outfits (Johnson was in Gucci).
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
The Everybody's Live with John Mulaney host, 42, sits on the bed, wearing a surgical mask and clasping Munn's hands in his.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Olea stood in the court room Thursday in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs, clasping his own hands.
—Ana Claudia Chacin, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clasping
Verb
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In typical athlete origin story fashion, the first half of the Christy trailer depicts the unpolished, brunette Sweeney as real-life champion Christy Salters Martin slugging it out in practice, training on a beach, and hugging her supportive team.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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But most are job hugging because job hoppers no longer get the big salary bump.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For every person holding the statue, there are four or five who came close and didn’t.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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The extra point was good but there was a holding penalty on the Rebels.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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What lies beneath the surface is hardly a starting point for grasping the breadth and enduring impact of each work.—
Natasha Gural,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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From high-stakes official visits to personal trips, understanding where leaders go, and why, is crucial to grasping the evolving landscape of international diplomacy.—
Collin J. Meisel,
The Conversation,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Royals — who are desperately clinging to slim playoff hopes — dropped another winnable game 8-6 against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
13 Sep. 2025
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Companies clinging to this outdated model risk losing their best talent, hurting families of working parents, and ultimately harming their bottom line.—
Liz Teran,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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More Yankees/Getty Images Manager John Schneider confirmed that the Yankees had picked up on a tell when Scherzer was gripping his changeup with runners on base.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
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The Marswalker has rugged wheels in each corner for gripping the steps, as well as a long antenna to sense angles and heights.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine recently sued OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, alleging that ChatGPT coached the California boy in planning and taking his own life earlier this year.—
Barbara Ortutay,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
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But if anyone is taking bets on who will shape the future of fashion publishing, Enninful is surely in the running.—
Fiona Sinclair Scott,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clasping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clasping. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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