1
as in wrestled
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
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2
as in grabbed
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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Recent Examples of grappled
But as the doc promises to chronicle, both Ben and Amy grappled with their parents’ fame and off-camera relationship.
—
David Browne, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
Starbucks weathered sluggish sales in recent years as customers grappled with a years-long bout of elevated inflation, analysts previously told ABC News.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2025
The proposal comes as the nation has grappled with how to remember Kirk's life and legacy.
—Laura Gersony, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
While Bud Light faced conservative backlash over its partnership with a transgender influencer, Constellation Brands' Modelo has recently grappled with weaker demand from its key Hispanic consumer base.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2025
As states grappled with confusion around vaccines, COVID-19 cases have continued to fluctuate nationwide.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Johnson previously recounted this incident in 2018, while shooting a Ballers episode that grappled with a character's suicide.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Sep. 2025
Johnny Carson rarely had to deal with such stuff, but his progeny have grappled with it with increasing frequency.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
The Globes have grappled with how to do justice to these two awards on a show that is already packed with prizes for both film and television.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2025
David Browne, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
Starbucks weathered sluggish sales in recent years as customers grappled with a years-long bout of elevated inflation, analysts previously told ABC News.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2025
The proposal comes as the nation has grappled with how to remember Kirk's life and legacy.
—Laura Gersony, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
While Bud Light faced conservative backlash over its partnership with a transgender influencer, Constellation Brands' Modelo has recently grappled with weaker demand from its key Hispanic consumer base.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2025
As states grappled with confusion around vaccines, COVID-19 cases have continued to fluctuate nationwide.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Johnson previously recounted this incident in 2018, while shooting a Ballers episode that grappled with a character's suicide.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Sep. 2025
Johnny Carson rarely had to deal with such stuff, but his progeny have grappled with it with increasing frequency.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
The Globes have grappled with how to do justice to these two awards on a show that is already packed with prizes for both film and television.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grappled
Verb
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Montana De La Rosa is in the Azle High School Hall of Fame and wrestled on the 2013 Lady Hornets team that won a state championship.—
Rick Mauch,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Sep. 2025
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Both times, Brown wrestled off a defender and raced for gains of 20-plus yards.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In front of reporters, the agent grabbed the crying woman by the arms before shoving her to the wall and then downward.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
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According to the complaint filed by detectives, Dials grabbed a handgun that belonged to Sean Perrin, 31, off the bedroom floor, placing it between the mattress and the wall before the two went to bed, the Dispatch reported.—
Christine Pelisek,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Brown was caught after the raid failed and charged with treason.—
Christopher Tremoglie,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Sep. 2025
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The same was true against Brighton, who were twice caught by City winning the ball and quickly shifting through the gears.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The good vibes, the kudos, the opportunities seized.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
28 Sep. 2025
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The boost would be short-lived, as the Shamrocks seized the momentum back with a strong defensive response and took possession over at the Spartans’ 29-yard line.—
Erik Anderson,
Boston Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Bob's escape apparel over the two-day fight for his daughter's survival features cataract-protecting sunglasses snatched comically from a drugstore rack.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
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Janus snatched up the feature following its competition premiere in Cannes and ahead of its North American debut at the New York Film Festival.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Denver has already landed its first founding partner, CommonSpirit Health, which also secured naming rights for the club’s performance center.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
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The missiles, capable of carrying eight warheads each, landed in a broad area of the Atlantic, the Navy's Strategic Systems Programs said.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Ryder Cup is the one competition in golf that should be played in front of an intense, feverish crowd, the kind that can’t be captured by the virtual reality headsets European captain Luke Donald gave his players.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
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TxDOT traffic cameras captured dozens of emergency vehicles and police units converging near the ICE facility off I-35E and Empire Central.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grappled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grappled. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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