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
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
Zaheer Kachwala, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Amid the blossoming love between Pierre and Francis, one soldier grapples with a decision that illuminates the movie’s choice of title.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 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
Last month, Netflix's chairman and co-founder Reed Hastings decided to exit the company at a time when the firm is looking for new avenues of growth such as gaming and live entertainment while grappling with slower sales.
—Zaheer Kachwala, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Amid the blossoming love between Pierre and Francis, one soldier grapples with a decision that illuminates the movie’s choice of title.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for grapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapple
Noun
-
At this point, the foils can lose grip in the water, much like the feeling of understeer or oversteer when cornering at high speed in a car.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
-
All three discs are manufactured using DX plastic, which offers a comfortable grip and reliable performance in a variety of weather conditions.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
With another o-for in the books, the impending free agent declined to talk about his struggles following Monday’s game.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
12 May 2026
-
In the aftermath, Mad's sister, Annabel, becomes a recluse, and Mad struggles to keep the family's bar afloat as the sisters become the center of damaging gossip.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
At which point Fouracres, reprising his role as Attenborough, ran onto the stage dressed in WWE-style spandex and began wrestling with Animashaun.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
9 May 2026
-
Ivelisse Garcia Santana said her grandson Jeury Concepcion needed several stitches after ICE agents wrestled him to the ground.—
Adi Guajardo,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Executives said the focus this year has been on grabbing the biggest audiences and on how artificial intelligence is improving data and outcomes.—
Lillian Rizzo,
CNBC,
11 May 2026
-
Reid played a big role in the season-saving quarter as well, scoring six points, grabbing three boards and picking up two assists, including a no-look dish to Gobert for a dunk with three minutes to play.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Some of the movies that escaped Neon’s grasp still irk Quinn.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
-
Yet many of its students aren’t demonstrating even an elementary grasp of free speech.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
The project is particularly acrimonious, drawing out geographical battles between north and south and thorny fights between officials who want to build the tunnel and environmentalists and Delta residents seeking to protect the local ecosystem and their way of life.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
Without losing a man or a ship, Dewey’s squadron destroyed the Spanish fleet in the first American naval battle against a foreign power in almost five decades.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
And Bona, a second-year reserve, got caught too many times reaching in the cookie jar while defending Towns.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
-
The Reds tied the game two batters later and then scored a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly to right field that brought Seiya Suzuki to the ground against the wall while catching it.—
Andy Martinez,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
One West Ham player, Pablo, had his arm across Raya’s chest and a hold of his left forearm and another, Jean-Clair Todibo, was pulling his shirt at the shoulder.—
Graham Scott,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
The scale of destruction has Lebanese officials and residents worried that large numbers of people displaced by the latest war will have nowhere to return if the fragile truce holds.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapple. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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