DEATH GRIP Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

death grip

noun

Definition of death grip

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 death grip The stagnant offense of his death grip dragged its way into a final-drive game, eerily similar to when Florida faced USF weeks ago, kicking off this saga. — Noah White, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025 As in give it up, let go, release the death grip. — Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025 Across genres and styles, new books must maintain a death grip on the reader’s attention, fearful of losing it to the many readily accessible distractions lying at most one foot from the book itself. — Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 18 Sep. 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 See All Example Sentences for death grip

Recent Examples of Synonyms for death grip

Noun

His ability to implement policies aimed at boosting economic growth — such as reindustrialization, building more social housing and taking greater public control of utilities — will also be severely constrained by weak government finances.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
In an increasingly unpredictable business environment, executives seek control over their biology through peptides, promising faster recovery and improved performance.

— Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of control

Noun

Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan and Saudi Arabia reported raising alarms or fending off Iranian attacks, as Kuwait said another power and water desalination plant was hit.

— Jomana Karadsheh, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
The strikes injured several people at the oil facility and caused a fire at the desalination plant, forcing several power generation units offline.

— Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 18 July 2026

Definition of power

Noun

Historical roots As Roberts’ majority opinion demonstrates, the definition of citizenship that Americans inherited from Britain and the common law included everyone born in a place where the king’s dominion extended.

— Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
The show represents a milestone in American TV, when showrunners like Shonda Rhimes began to become famous names in and of themselves, and create whole dominions of TV shows on networks and streaming services.

— Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 June 2026

Definition of dominion

Noun

By the mid-nineteenth century the Hawaiian throne, and the British, were both losing power as the growing cartel of US plantation bosses aggressively sought sway.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
Aside from securing more than $1 billion in new funding for public transit, the state’s new landmark mass transit law centralizes planning, budgeting and service standards across the agencies and gives Preckwinkle more sway in their decision-making.

— A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2026

Definition of sway

Noun

At the same time, his family back home — which includes wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and son Telemachus (Tom Holland) — has to protect his reign.

— Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026
This is sure to be an interesting Head of Household reign for Devens as a member of both The Red Corner and The Crossovers alliances, who dominated the first week's vote.

— Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 17 July 2026

Definition of reign

Browse Nearby Words

deathblows

death grip

death grips

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Death grip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/death%20grip. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of death grip

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

itinerant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes