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
Kristina Karisch, The Hill, 7 May 2025
UnitedHealth Group profits fell to $3.4 billion in the second quarter as the giant provider of health benefits and services grapples with rising costs of providing health insurance to millions of Americans.
—Bruce Japsen, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Yujia Zhu, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Such spending would boost demand – without solving any of the supply problems gripping an economy grappling with an aging population, an immigration crackdown and the trade war.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grapple
Noun
The Hill: An appeals court grapples with efforts to deport international students Rumeysa Ozturk and Mohsen Mahdawi.
—Kristina Karisch, The Hill, 7 May 2025
UnitedHealth Group profits fell to $3.4 billion in the second quarter as the giant provider of health benefits and services grapples with rising costs of providing health insurance to millions of Americans.
—Bruce Japsen, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Verb
Yet nonprofits often grapple with high staff burnout, donor fatigue and mission drift.
—Yujia Zhu, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Such spending would boost demand – without solving any of the supply problems gripping an economy grappling with an aging population, an immigration crackdown and the trade war.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapple
Noun
-
Since achieving independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has spent nearly half its life at war and is currently in the grip of a political crisis, after President Salva Kiir's government ordered the arrest of Vice President Riek Machar in March.—
George Obulutsa,
USA Today,
14 Aug. 2025
-
However, the son lost his grip from the branch and was carried downstream with the current.—
Cathy Kozlowicz,
jsonline.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Neal has been inconsistent and has had some health struggles.—
Brett Appley,
New York Times,
16 Aug. 2025
-
And the other thing is just this constant reminder of the struggle of entrepreneurs out there.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Throughout the episode, Conrad wrestled with his romantic feelings for Belly.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
-
The reticence around jumping on the Mamdani train has highlighted an identity crisis of sorts playing out inside the party as its leaders wrestle with whether the 33-year-old Queens Assembly member is a model for the future of Democratic party politics.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Four prisoners had to take turns using a bunk bed just to grab a few hours of sleep.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
18 Aug. 2025
-
But Sunday, unfortunately for him, slipped away quickly as World No. 1 grabbed his fifth season title.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Improving knowledge of functional, everyday difficulties and potential scaffolding is within the grasp of HR with the occasional advice of specialists where needed.—
Nancy Doyle,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
But by autumn Iran was slipping from the Shah’s grasp.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The news was especially monumental given the six-year battle over her masters, which led her to launch her highly successful rerecording endeavor and release Taylor’s Versions of Fearless, Red, Speak Now, and 1989.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
12 Aug. 2025
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Europe is on track for its worst wildfire season on record as swaths of the continent — including France, Spain, Albania, Portugal and Greece — battle raging, deadly fires as temperature soar above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For all Sacks’ efforts to remain an indefinable cult figure outside the mainstream, he has lately been caught in Hollywood’s tractor beam, with several film scripts in advanced stages of development.—
Julian Sancton,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Aug. 2025
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But that’s why the piece decrying a (for now) defunct U.S. Senate bill to sell some of our public lands to the highest bidder caught my eye.—
Joanna Allhands,
AZCentral.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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With Biles’ future on the competitive stage on hold, 2025 marks another year for a new star to emerge as national champion.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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The notice also said the appeal results in an automatic stay of Polo’s decision — effectively meaning that the ruling is on hold and the arbitration process can continue while the legal fight plays out.—
Jim Saunders,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapple. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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