grapple 1 of 2

noun

ˈgra-pəl How to pronounce grapple (audio)
Definition of grapplenext
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

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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

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grapple

2 of 2

verb

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

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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

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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 grapple
Noun
The sloptimists are betting that writing devoid of an inner purpose can rival the stuff ripped out of an author’s chest with a claw grapple. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 10 June 2026 The jump in yields comes as Warsh, who was confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday, grapples with an increasingly complicated inflation picture. — Jeff Cox,hugh Leask,sean Conlon,lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 15 May 2026
Verb
That is the question state attorneys general across the country are grappling with following a landmark settlement with Meta this summer. — Chloe Veltman, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026 While Debicki needed a moment to grapple with the sight of a naked wicker man, Colman’s reaction mirrored her character falling in love at first sight. — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapple
  1. grip
  2. struggle
  3. wrestle
  4. grab
  5. grasp
  6. battle
  7. catch
  8. hold
Noun
  • Your first instinct may be to tighten your grip, but flexibility could serve you better.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026
  • While Xi has consolidated his grip on power, analysts say the plenum will offer him an opportunity to further align what Chinese officials do with what Beijing wants.
    — KANIS LEUNG, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of grip
Noun
  • The journey from the theatrical release to The Final Cut, opening on the twenty‑fifth anniversary of the film in 2007, is akin to the struggle of historians to set the record straight.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
  • For a team that did not shy away from its Super Bowl expectations during training camp, this is the Cowboys’ chance to prove that the early season struggles were an outlier and that the plan is still in motion.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of struggle
Verb
  • Grown men clock in to work to wrestle in the sand with their friends, bond closely with their horses, and film thirst traps for social media on their lunch breaks.
    — Alessandra Schade, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026
  • But Le Mindu is hardly the only designer to have confronted his own fears of death through fashion—designers have long used this medium to wrestle with what is paradoxically both life’s only guarantee and one of its greatest mysteries.
    — Livia Caligor, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of wrestle
Verb
  • Finally, grab 32% off the Eufy E340 Security Video Doorbell with Chime, providing dual 2K cameras and color night vision.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026
  • James scored 18 points, grabbed two rebounds and was a minus-22 going up against Paul Reed, and the 76ers were left to hope his presence at center was nothing more than a cameo.
    — Dan Gelston, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of grab
Noun
  • Falcons gain possession with fumble recovery Maason Smith continued a solid game by punching out the football from the grasp of 49ers running back Kaelon Black, a fumble recovered by Gervon Dexter Sr.
    — AJC.com, AJC.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Both scores were a reflection of Martinez’s grasp of the game’s nuances.
    — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of grasp
Noun
  • The leader, facing a tough re-election battle, has focused much of his campaign ahead of Tuesday’s vote on security.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2026
  • By focusing on the battles fought in luxury department stores, fashion shows, high-end spas, nail salons, and the home, the film illustrated just how limited even privileged women’s options were.
    — Raymond Ang, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of battle
Verb
  • SpaceX's confidence in its ability to catch both the Super Heavy and Ship stages has been building this year, following three launches so far in 2026.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In Minor Black Figures, Taylor casts a sharp gaze on the New York art scene through the eyes of Wyeth, a young Black painter caught in the throes of creative struggle.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of catch
Noun
  • Only 12 of 37 Wall Street analysts rate the stock buy or strong buy, 24 call it a hold and one is at underperform, according to LSEG data.
    — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026
  • That gave Republicans the power to solidify their hold through redistricting.
    — Carmen Russell-Sluchansky, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of hold

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Cite this Entry

“Grapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapple. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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