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
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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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of grapple
Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
When Mary finds herself at the center of a public scandal and the family faces financial trouble, the entire household grapples with the threat of social disgrace.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2025
Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2025
As Black women mourn her loss and grapple with the realities of a capitalist system that devalues our lives and labor, we are comforted by the legacy Assata Shakur leaves behind.
—Essence, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grapple
Noun
Combat is great, even if the grapple didn’t hook me.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
When Mary finds herself at the center of a public scandal and the family faces financial trouble, the entire household grapples with the threat of social disgrace.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
The deal’s expiration has plunged thousands of factory workers into uncertainty at a time when African countries are already grappling with the impact of new US tariffs that imposed import taxes on many products which were previously duty-free under AGOA.
—Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2025
As Black women mourn her loss and grapple with the realities of a capitalist system that devalues our lives and labor, we are comforted by the legacy Assata Shakur leaves behind.
—Essence, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapple
Noun
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In an increasingly crowded sports month, the lighthearted newcomer will help baseball keep its grip on the public consciousness.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
2 Oct. 2025
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New data showed manufacturing contracted this month, but less than expected, a hopeful indication that authorities may be coming to grips with industrial overcapacity.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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If anything, the two games at Dodger Stadium showed the struggles of the Reds’ offense, with Blake Snell allowing only two base runners in the first six innings of his Game 1 start, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto gave up two runs in the first inning of Game 2 before retiring 13 straight.—
C. Trent Rosecrans,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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Mendes would later detail his struggles with maintaining his mental health while touring and cancel his Wonder world tour in 2022.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The launch comes as comedians wrestle with a fast-changing career pathway and how to manage live sets and digital content in the same breath.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Hurts attempted a deep pass to Dallas Goedert at the 5-yard line, and Goedert appeared to be wrestled to the ground.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The ball popped up in the air and Bolton was there to grab it, except he was hit by teammate Drue Tranquill.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Sasaki was the necessary answer on Monday night, coming in to secure the final out and avoid disaster as Freddie Freeman sprawled out to grab Tommy Edman’s final throw to first base.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Like so many young adults, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, now 30, experimented with drinking and other substances but found things getting beyond her grasp.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Let’s assume, for the sake of this exercise, that your nearly 70 years in the afterlife has given you an innate grasp of modern analytics, air travel, nutrition and a deep understanding of the collective psyche of Gen Z.—
Levi Weaver,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The battle of the rotations Pretty much every night, their starting pitcher was better than your starting pitcher.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
That includes research presentations on hip-hop, identity and activism, interactive workshops in education and creative practice, and a freestyle dance battle.—
Liz Rothaus Bertrand,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the skit, a camera catches fans at a game dancing and cuts to the two who dump their popcorns, do the robot and then turn back-to-back and pose.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
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Will Shipley would be more of the pass-catching value, and Dillon the early-down and goal-line option, not to say both can’t do both things — hence, the hot hand (and hence for the second time).—
Jake Ciely,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In Florida, which accounts for nearly 20% of total nationwide policies for the National Flood Insurance Program, this means that some new home sales are on hold and some homeowners could be left with no coverage if their property floods while the government isn’t functioning.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
2 Oct. 2025
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This fundraising is currently on hold.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapple. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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