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
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Recent Examples of clasping
Bend your elbow and reach for your right hand, clasping hands together in Cow Face arms.
—
Riya Davda, Outside, 5 Oct. 2025
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
Riya Davda, Outside, 5 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clasping
Verb
-
After not being seen together again for a few months, Perry and Trudeau were then photographed in September, hugging and kissing on a yacht off the coast of Santa Barbara.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The boots boasted a slim high heel, pointy toe and ankle-hugging silhouette.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Footwear News,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
So, for me, that was the creation of the Anti-American Speech Committee, which is a government panel essentially designed to prosecute artists for holding views or creating work that resists basically the fascist state that has overtaken the American government.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Witnesses shared video footage of an agent holding a man down and repeatedly hitting him in the head.—
NPR,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The father, Fyodor Karamazov, is a grasping, lecherous, deceitful, and shameless widower.—
Karl Ove Knausgaard,
New Yorker,
21 Oct. 2025
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Furthermore, these grasping abilities would have also helped climb.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Down 4-3 in the decisive Game 7 with one out in the top of the ninth, Rojas revived and rejuvenated a Dodgers team clinging to its last breath.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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The Bucks were clinging to a 71-70 lead at the break after going 1 of 6 from 3-point range and 2 of 7 at the free-throw line in the second period.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The extra innings were gripping – the Dodgers left the bases loaded in the top of the 10th, the Blue Jays left the tying run on third in the bottom of the 11th.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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Thin, black bezels surround the edges, while the left bezel thickens to provide a space for gripping the tablet.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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When in doubt, close the page and verify the URL before taking any action.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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Roan ended up taking home the trophy.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clasping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clasping. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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