CLASPING Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

clasping

verb

present participle of clasp

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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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

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 clasping These feature the American Eagle on one side, clasping an oak branch in its talons. — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 20 July 2026 Their logo is an osprey, clasping a baseball bat in its talons. — Alanis Thames, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2026 Charlotte, an avid tennis fan like her mom, could be seen clasping her face in shock with her eyes wide during the games, mirroring Kate's own expressions at times. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 4 July 2026 Aabria, by contrast, leans on personality and connection, clasping hands with the jurors and complimenting them before calmly lying about the rules of the bra contest and her victory. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 30 June 2026 The cap’s crown is decorated with three clasping hands symbolizing unity and brotherhood. — Nancy Olson, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 In one segment, when Kimmel and McNearney pick up a hitchhiking Olivia Rodrigo while taking the family to school, Jane shows off her personality, clasping her hands over her mouth in disbelief when Rodrigo enters the car, only to sing-along with the pop star on her way to school. — ABC News, 12 May 2026 McDaniels held onto Murray for dear life — often literally clasping his jersey — as the Nuggets tried to run him off every conceivable screen. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 1 May 2026 The june bug falls to the bottom of the bag but manages to recover from a new round of kicking by clasping to a leaf. — María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for clasping

Verb

The ships were directed to take a route along the southern side of the Strait of Hormuz, hugging Oman's coastline, rather than a route along Iran's coastline on the northern side of the strait.

— Jackie Northam, NPR, 17 July 2026
Lopez’s sheer lace bodysuit featured a delicate floral pattern that beautifully blanketed every inch of the figure-hugging design.

— Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 17 July 2026

Definition of hugging

Verb

Trainees can practice their aim and stance, and holding and firing a handgun are naturally part of it.

— Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 25 July 2026
The 30-minute video posted by Pfister of the Zimmerman’s Meat Market incident from earlier this year shows him, his wife, Pam, and another man holding their cameras to the deli’s front window, capturing what was visible inside.

— Kyung Lah, CNN Money, 25 July 2026

Definition of holding

Verb

The five survivors were found late Saturday afloat, clinging to a fish trap belonging to a local fisherman, Muhammad Arif Anwar, head of the Makassar Search and Rescue Office, said in a statement.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
Both pieces have a relaxed, oversized fit that keeps them from clinging in the humidity and can easily be styled with other pieces in your wardrobe.

— Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

Definition of clinging

Verb

That there was grasping profit-seeking by private-sector grocery stores.

— David Frum, The Atlantic, 22 July 2026
By combining grasping and touch sensing into a single soft device, future robots could be trained to perform much more complex and demanding tasks than simply washing the dishes.

— Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 20 July 2026

Definition of grasping

Verb

And while Shakira drew big cheers, as did the appearance of Bieber, these paled in comparison to the cheers and oh’s and ah’s in the crowd throughout the gripping final.

— Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 19 July 2026
The bad blood just increases from there and gets exceedingly personal as each magician tries to outdo the other in an electrifying, gripping duel that tears apart both their lives.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 17 July 2026

Definition of gripping

Verb

These measures, including taking data centers off-grid and allowing power plants to exceed pollution limits, are now routine, invoked 43 times in 14 months compared to 20 in the prior 50 years.

— Anna Demeo, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Reached a second successive final with Argentina, almost single-handedly firing them there with eight goals (taking his tally to 15 goals from 15 matches in the past two tournaments).

— Tim Spiers, New York Times, 21 July 2026

Definition of taking

Browse Nearby Words

clasped

clasping

clasps

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“Clasping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clasping. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of clasping

verb

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