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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grapple
Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026
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
Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Like many software-as-a-service companies, Salesforce is grappling with concerns that new AI tools will render its business model obsolete.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for grapple
Noun
The department is sharing clips of recent incidents stemming from spring break chaos, earning hundreds of thousands of views as officials throughout the Sunshine State grapple with another year of college students descending on their city’s beaches.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026
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
Verb
Roaring and grunting, his body sleek with blood and sweat, Conan tussles and grapples with a series of opponents, dominating them all, while an audience of torch-wielding vulgarians shouts and howls at the pit’s lip.
—Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Like many software-as-a-service companies, Salesforce is grappling with concerns that new AI tools will render its business model obsolete.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for grapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapple
Noun
-
This is a delicate and dicey subject to even bring up, since the industry right now is in the grip of multiple perceptions and anxieties about what AI portends for the future of entertainment.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
18 June 2026
-
Wider wheel positioning enhances tire grip at turn-in and cornering traction.—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
The couple also has been open about their struggle with IVF in recent years.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
-
The family’s legal struggles have loomed large over the last several years, but Steven says two moments in particular stand out as the most difficult.—
Deirdre Durkan,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
More prestigious films continued to wrestle with the paranoia of the Nixon era.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 June 2026
-
There is little evidence that students are wrestling deeply with ideas.—
Robert B. Tucker,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Grant asks Chris about the boxing gloves now for sale in the night store, but Katie forestalls him by running over and grabbing them, nearly flattening Chris.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
-
Demonstrators grabbed bricks from the ground to throw at police, as tear gas was deployed in Geneva's streets, witnesses told Reuters.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
But what’s behind this chaos, and is there any way to escape its grasp?—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
-
The trading is also set to determine whether Musk becomes the world’s first trillionaire, a title that currently just exceeds his grasp.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
After several years as an orphan, Pumphrey died in a South Caroline pine forest on August 16, 1780, in what was one of the bloodiest battles of the Revolutionary War.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
Aegon was severely injured by Aemond and Vhagar in that battle.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
If caught in a rip current, remain calm.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
18 June 2026
-
Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Passengers can only carry certain lithium batteries on planes and cannot check them into the cargo hold, according to FAA and airline regulations.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
-
New York should be helping America build the infrastructure needed to win, not putting it on hold.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapple. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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