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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But that 34-day war only further enhanced Hezbollah’s position in Lebanon as a powerful armed militia, operating outside of government reach while at the same time — particularly since 2008 – actually being part of the government and having effective control over it.—
Asher Kaufman,
The Conversation,
20 Mar. 2026
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The Wall Dancers traces how freedom and state control evolved online — a dynamic that may influence the artificial intelligence race.—
Timothy McLaughlin,
Bloomberg,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Fully built out, the data center will pull a gigawatt from Arkansas' power grid, which is enough to power approximately 750,000 homes.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
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Archaeologists discovered two astonishing Iron Age hoards in North Yorkshire, one of them being the largest ever found in British history, which has changed the historical understanding of wealth and power in pre-Roman Britain.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Then comes along Hail Project Mary to upend the prevailing theory that the multiplex has become the dominion of sequels, threequels and endless franchise installments.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Mar. 2026
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Many key figures were associated with a movement known as the New Apostolic Reformation, which aims to establish Christian dominion over American society and government.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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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He was given immense sway in the organization, including influence over roster decisions, and endorsed a push for more size and less finesse throughout the lineup.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Teen-agers born thirty years after the end of his father’s reign were shot and killed for chanting his name.—
Azadeh Moaveni,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
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Caesar's reign had lasted less than a decade.—
Mo Rocca,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Death grip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/death%20grip. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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