grapple 1 of 2

noun

ˈgra-pəl How to pronounce grapple (audio)
Definition of grapplenext
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

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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

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grapple

2 of 2

verb

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

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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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grapple
Noun
The script called for her character to throw a wine glass toward Isaac’s head, escalating things into a grapple with a golf club. — Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026 Aston Villa’s grapple with underlying metrics has been under the microscope all season. — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
At one point, after Gabriel won a header by levering himself up on Haaland’s shoulders, the two grappled on the turf as the game continued around them. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 5 July 2026 Eight people were shot and wounded, four of them children, by a gunman in a ski mask at a Coney Island family barbecue as the city grappled with a wave of overnight Fourth of July gun violence, police said Sunday. — Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for grapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapple
  1. grip
  2. struggle
  3. wrestle
  4. grab
  5. grasp
  6. battle
  7. catch
  8. hold
Noun
  • The basketballs themselves are also protected from unnecessary surface wear and tear with the Carry’s non-friction delivery system (supports size 6 and 7 balls) that helps the basketball keep grip through continual training.
    — Shirl Leigh July 13, New Atlas, 13 July 2026
  • At 15 years old, Boubacar Sidibe already had a good grip on this firefighting stuff at Monday's first day of camp.
    — Noel Brennan, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Definition of grip
Noun
  • Clifford was impressed with Acuff’s ability to play through his early struggles.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2026
  • Older students and professionals face an existential struggle to find a job, according to Yahya Alhamarna, a 24-year-old author displaced in Gaza City.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of struggle
Verb
  • Wales kicked for field position, then relied on its tight forwards to wrestle the ball over the line.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
  • As opportunities beyond the classroom grow, teachers wrestle with their deep commitment to serving students in public schools while longing for greater professional autonomy.
    — Tiffany Thenor, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of wrestle
Verb
  • With the back tyre in the water, grab the front brake and stand up off the bike.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 July 2026
  • Ethiopian content creator Kalu Putik has grabbed the attention of the fashion world with his outfits made from old clothes, shoes, and garbage scraps.
    — Jenny Vaughan, semafor.com, 13 July 2026
Definition of grab
Noun
  • The collaboration builds on several NVIDIA resources already available through LeRobot, including an open-source physical AI dataset containing more than 350,000 real and simulated robot trajectories and 57 million grasp examples.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 July 2026
  • In comparison, the Sparks, without an offensive rebound until the end of the third quarter, were forced to make perfect shots, though that was far from the team’s grasp.
    — Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of grasp
Noun
  • True, nothing so grand as a massive dragon and naval battle took place, but seeing Rhaenyra start to change into someone almost unrecognizable from her younger, more innocent self was compelling in a deeper way.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • There have been naval battles and beheadings and aerial battles and, well, more beheadings.
    — Brian Grubb, Vulture, 6 July 2026
Definition of battle
Verb
  • Anaplasmosis can also cause severe illness, including respiratory failure, bleeding problems, organ failure and death, though it can also be treated with antibiotics, especially if caught early.
    — Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • For many who are caught in, recovering from or trying to avoid the next heatwave, their prayers for rain might well be answered.
    — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 13 July 2026
Definition of catch
Noun
  • The film was originally set to be directed by Melanie Laurent, but was put on hold during the pandemic and later revived with Morris directing.
    — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 10 July 2026
  • Which could mean the SuperSonics’ return (and expansion overall) is put on hold until the Seahawks’ process concludes and investment groups potentially refocus around NBA bids instead.
    — John Cassillo, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of hold

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Cite this Entry

“Grapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapple. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of grapple for Spanish Speakers

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