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
Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Four days of grapples, reversals and takedowns are on deck at Grand Casino Arena.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 Feb. 2026
Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
As Rose grapples with the gaps in her memory, the two encounter danger and violence.
—The Know, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for grapple
Noun
Ritchson's 81 grapples with a severe case of survivor's guilt after watching his brother die in Afghanistan.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Four days of grapples, reversals and takedowns are on deck at Grand Casino Arena.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
Matt exited the show in 2019 while publicly grappling with addiction.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
As Rose grapples with the gaps in her memory, the two encounter danger and violence.
—The Know, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for grapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapple
Noun
-
India is already in the grip of a severe heatwave, and nearly 60% of its farming relies on rainfall.—
Sri Jegarajah,Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
-
The three Republicans vying to break Colorado Democrats’ grip on the governor’s mansion finally shared a stage Tuesday night for an hour that was light on policy but was full of questions and answers that likely have never been heard on a debate stage before.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
The record of my thinking is right there in the open, teaching me tolerance for my fumbling, training me not to hide my struggle behind a seamless façade of digital perfection.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
Last week, the Fulton County Sheriff's Office announced the jail will stop accepting most misdemeanor arrestees beginning July 1, pointing to struggles with the conditions at the jail and struggles dealing with overcrowding.—
Madeline Montgomery,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Californians are wrestling with the conflict between protecting wildlife and protecting citizens from the threats predators pose, with mountain lion sightings near Susanville the latest to heighten public awareness.—
May 30,
Sacbee.com,
30 May 2026
-
Miz and Axiom wrestled a nice, long match that was both of their best in years.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Stop here for suggestions on the best nearby dog-friendly parks for your pup, to pick up breakfast vouchers, and to grab a list of participating local businesses that offer discounts to Hotel Lucia guests.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Rollins sneakily grabbed the title and put it near his abdomen.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Consumers without a grasp of the basics may struggle to distinguish good advice from bad.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
-
The ball rolled away from his grasp and Duran was safe at first as Texas had two runners on base against Royals starter Seth Lugo.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Losing that battle could cost him more than $100 million, according to the Times.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
5 June 2026
-
It is embedded within the city’s historic Jackson Park, a decision that was met with legal battles as an environmental group sued the City of Chicago for allowing a private project to be built on public land.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Wait, so then why did Benji and the cameras catch him pouring whiskey into his solo cup?—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
4 June 2026
-
Owner Conner Mitchell, former manager Taylor Grant, boat owner Gilmer Grant and boat captain Cody Martin were all involved in catching local fish such as yellowtail, rockfish and Pacific tuna.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
For now, those expectations are on hold.—
Brian Maass,
CBS News,
2 June 2026
-
Dispatchers called Waymo 31 times to get vehicles moved, and one caller was left on hold for 53 minutes.—
David Roberts,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapple. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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