as in control
the right or means to command or control others
the cult leader had such a death grip on his followers that all orders were carried out without the slightest objection
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Recent Examples of death grip
Detachment creates attachment The death grip on your goals is what's killing them.
—
Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Next, scientists will need to examine Cretaceous leaves for evidence of death grips to see if the prehistoric fungi had evolved to manipulate insects’ behavior during this time, says Jarzembowski in the statement.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 June 2025
After further assessment and some discussion, the team focused on the quad, which evidently had a death grip on Tichyque’s femur.
—Literary Hub, 7 May 2025
Alma clutched her arm and didn’t let go—a death grip.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for death grip
Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Next, scientists will need to examine Cretaceous leaves for evidence of death grips to see if the prehistoric fungi had evolved to manipulate insects’ behavior during this time, says Jarzembowski in the statement.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 June 2025
After further assessment and some discussion, the team focused on the quad, which evidently had a death grip on Tichyque’s femur.
—Literary Hub, 7 May 2025
Alma clutched her arm and didn’t let go—a death grip.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for death grip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for death grip
Noun
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Affordability is a top issue this midterm cycle as the GOP is defending its control of the House and Senate.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
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The Jayhawks started this game on a 9-0 run, but TCU quickly caught up and took control, particularly with KU’s Bidunga in foul trouble.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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On Sunday, Iran continued attacks on neighbors, while Israel struck fuel depots in Tehran and threatened the Islamic Republic’s power grid.—
Bloomberg News,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
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Quiet reflection gains power as cerebral Mercury in your 12th House of Solitude trines jovial Jupiter in your comforting 4th house, guiding you through releasing past aches.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Sometimes shrubs look bare and unattractive after living under the dominion of other plants, but many can be rehabbed by severe pruning.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2026
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Taking the podium in Beijing’s cavernous Great Hall of the People, Premier Li Qiang unveiled a 7% bump on defense spending while using strident language for the self-ruling island, over which China claims dominion.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The reason why Iran has such sway over fossil fuels has to do with a quirk of geology.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
12 Mar. 2026
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Our cultural knowledge gave us sway and access.—
Anna Holmes,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Natalia Sarafanova, head of the Novotorzhsk archaeological team, explained in a press release that most of the coins date to the reign of Emperor Nicholas II.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
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Under his reign at the apex of law enforcement in this rural Alabama county, 20 of his employees — nearly half the jail staff at the time of Mitchell's death — have been indicted in a sweeping federal investigation that also included five health care contractors.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Death grip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/death%20grip. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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