1
as in grip
the act or manner of holding
was simply unable to break my opponent's viselike grapple and lost the wrestling match
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in struggle
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
after a grapple with his conscience, he confessed to having an affair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to wrestle
to seize and attempt to unbalance one another for the purpose of achieving physical mastery
two sumo wrestlers grappling like a pair of mammoth bears
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
a crane grappled the sunken boat and hoisted it above water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of grapple
NPR, 25 Oct. 2025
Has anyone ever seen a mummy grapple?
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 17 Feb. 2026
To this day, America continues to grapple with the legacy of slavery.
—Ramtin Arablouei, NPR, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grapple
Noun
The matches are intense, with powerful throws and strategic grapples, and the crowd's energy adds to the electric atmosphere.
—NPR, 25 Oct. 2025
Has anyone ever seen a mummy grapple?
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
Productivity soared in a way that historians are still grappling with measuring.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 17 Feb. 2026
To this day, America continues to grapple with the legacy of slavery.
—Ramtin Arablouei, NPR, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapple
Noun
-
Some states have attempted to come to grips with their histories.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
As markets learn to manufacture intelligence, politics modernizes, upgrades paranoia, and tries to get a grip.—
James Duesterberg,
New Yorker,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Big Sean has never shied away from sharing his mental health struggles.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Offense by committee with stable defense Without Curry and Butler, the Warriors’ offensive struggles were inevitable.—
Jannelle Moore,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
While Stockton is fielding interest from local colleges, including Northern Colorado and Western Colorado, Dyes will definitely be wrestling in college.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Host cities have always wrestled with the gap between a beautiful concept and a functional object, and the ribbon attachment has been a persistent headache for decades.—
Eric Sullivan,
Scientific American,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
On Friday night, Harry and Meghan grabbed dinner at Funke in Beverly Hills, where Meghan celebrated her 44th birthday last August.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Man, like when your hair starts grabbing at your collar.—
John Nogowski,
Hartford Courant,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Aljorna was able to slip out of his jacket, freeing himself from the agent’s grasp, and ran to his cousin, Goetz said.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Peck performed side-by-side with Fambrough until his death in 2023, a time frame that allowed Peck to grow more confident in his abilities and better grasp why his heroes were keen on this arrangement.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Britain had split the Chagos Islands from Mauritius before that colony gained independence, something that has been a source of diplomatic friction as well as multiple legal battles with locals who were evicted.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Arsenal is challenging for the titl while Tottenham — under new coach Igor Tudor — is in danger of being dragged into a relegation battle.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Clippers enter the final stretch of the season as the hottest team in the NBA, having won 20 of their past 27 games, a feat that caught many insiders by surprise.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
19 Feb. 2026
-
So, this is about when undeniable attraction catches you off guard, but also the enormous consequences of following that urge and that feeling, and the consequences of that for the families around you, however innocent your intent is.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In recent months, Israel has greatly expanded construction in Jewish settlements, legalized outposts and made significant bureaucratic changes to its policies in the territory to strengthen its hold and weaken the Palestinian Authority.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
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Last year, Parsons was the star pass rusher who conducted a hold-in as contract talks dragged on, which eventually led to him asking for a trade that was granted.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapple. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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