GRAPPLED Synonyms: 87 Similar and Opposite Words

grappled

verb

past tense of grapple

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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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 grappled Satterley grappled with his insecurities on the podcast but concluded that insecurities are part of human nature and that sharing them with the world could ultimately be a force for good. — Rudy Chinchilla, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026 Shelford addressed the deckhand’s absence during the episode as his crew grappled with a series of setbacks. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026 Asian markets mixed Over in Asia, markets were mixed as traders grappled with Treasury yields hitting multidecade highs and oil prices falling. — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026 Ever since, numerous experts have grappled with this scenario. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 24 Sep. 2026 Since then, the women have grappled with their relationship with Paul, and most of the cast have ended their friendship with her. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026 Following the 9/11 attacks, the entertainment industry grappled with when and how to return to programming. — Krystie Lee Yandoli, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026 Iceland has grappled with high inflation and interest rates that have made mortgages expensive. — CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 As survivors grappled with the aftermath, criticism of the burials mounted. — ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grappled

Verb

The album folded electronic textures, orchestral flourishes, studio experimentation and huge melodies into songs that wrestled with politics, mortality, love, fear and the strange business of being alive.

— SPIN Staff, SPIN, 30 Sep. 2026
On the other end, Heckman wrestled with the moral predicament of giving airtime to a potential murderer while hoping to keep Hall alive.

— Dave Itzkoff, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of wrestled

Verb

Ross also grabbed the woman by her ponytail and slammed her against the wall, causing injuries to her face and lip, according to the report.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Israel, Iranian analysts have noted, grabbed territory in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Syria after October 7 and argued that doing so was essential for its security.

— Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of grabbed

Verb

All five men who were arrested after authorities said they were caught approaching the base in three vans shortly after midnight Sunday have been released on bail but remain under investigation.

— Greg Miller, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026
Mosley, who caught 13 passes for 255 yards and four touchdowns in his first three collegiate games, has missed USC’s past two games.

— Sean Campbell, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of caught

Verb

Almost every house was then surrounded by adjacent empty lots that had been seized to ensure that no one else would build.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
After spending over a decade pushing pop forward from its periphery, Charli xcx seized the zeitgeist in 2024 with Brat.

— Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of seized

Verb

Leaving no pizza stone unturned, the results usually shake out as a healthy mix of the usual suspects and the odd dark horse, with the number one spot on the 2026 list snatched by a first-time world champion in West London.

— Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Sep. 2026
Sanders allegedly snatched a cigarette from one employee’s mouth and berated him for smoking.

— Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of snatched

Verb

In a bizarre way, meeting the late, great Lynch — whom Watts did an impeccable impression of, pretend cigarette and all — was almost like therapy for the actress, who landed that breakout role at the age of 31.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2026
Likewise, Mississippi State’s surprisingly smooth run through three games — led by breakout quarterback Kamario Taylor — had Starkville buzzing before Missouri landed in the state.

— PJ Green September 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of landed

Verb

The Houthis recently captured the strategic port city of Mokha and several Red Sea islands, extending their reach toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a maritime route through which about 12% of global trade passes.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
Against the stunning landscapes of wild, remote Turkey, captured in glorious detail by cinematographer Kiril Prodanov, Elif finds her muse again.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of captured

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grapple

grappled

grappled (with)

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“Grappled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grappled. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of grappled

verb

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