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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Take control of your money with CNBC Select CNBC Select is editorially independent and may earn a commission from affiliate partners on links.—
Renée Onque,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 2026
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Duties include patrolling residential neighborhoods, shopping centers, business parks, schools, local parks and assisting with traffic control, home vacation and elderly welfare checks.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The experience also reinforced Madsen’s belief in the power of social media.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
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Mophie's power bank has the functionality of a wireless MagSafe connection, with the convenience of a stand.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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During the Cold War, Radio Free Europe broadcast news to parts of Eastern Europe that were under Communist dominion.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
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His strong-arming of universities, law firms, and media companies is a response to real problems, but his actions seem aimed more at harming those entities—and expanding his dominion over them—than at crafting enduring fixes.—
Stephen Kotkin,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The Secret Agent, set in 1977 Brazil, is about living under a military dictatorship, which held sway in Brazil from 1964-1985.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
11 Jan. 2026
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By late 1964, by then under the sway of the Beatles, those musicians were joined by drummer and jazz aficionado Kreutzmann and avant garde bassist Phil Lesh in the rock unit the Warlocks.—
Chris Morris,
Variety,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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After her historic 70-year reign came to an end in 2022, Queen Elizabeth's son was crowned king.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
7 Jan. 2026
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Browns are Back Gray’s long reign has officially come to an end.—
Sophie Aliece Hollis,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Death grip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/death%20grip. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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