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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of grappled
Its cities to the south have long grappled with gaining equal access to emergency, healthcare and county services while facing disproportionate need, and an imbalance of jobs and housing.
—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
As texts and calls followed news reports, the NHL community grappled with the loss of one of that era’s most respected and notorious players.
—Dan Robson, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Primetime is generating great buzz because these questions of art and ethics must be grappled with.
—Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
The promise of conscious consumerism never really grappled with the fact that the core problem is overconsumption itself—and global demand for clothes, shoes, and cheap products has continued to climb.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 23 May 2026
The borough began preparing for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend in September, after authorities grappled with two back-to-back seasons of summer violence that overwhelmed officials and wreaked havoc on the shores.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
Those outlooks have grappled with a confounding mixture of warm ocean temperatures (which can feed hurricane activity) and a brewing El Niño (which can suppress hurricane activity in the Atlantic).
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 20 May 2026
Eastern Congo long has grappled with a humanitarian crisis and the threat of armed groups that have killed dozens and displaced thousands in Ituri in the past year.
—ABC News, 19 May 2026
This isn’t the first time the Dodgers have grappled with workload questions while projecting out a full season of Shohei Ohtani’s two-way schedule.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
As texts and calls followed news reports, the NHL community grappled with the loss of one of that era’s most respected and notorious players.
—Dan Robson, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Primetime is generating great buzz because these questions of art and ethics must be grappled with.
—Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
The promise of conscious consumerism never really grappled with the fact that the core problem is overconsumption itself—and global demand for clothes, shoes, and cheap products has continued to climb.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 23 May 2026
The borough began preparing for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend in September, after authorities grappled with two back-to-back seasons of summer violence that overwhelmed officials and wreaked havoc on the shores.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
Those outlooks have grappled with a confounding mixture of warm ocean temperatures (which can feed hurricane activity) and a brewing El Niño (which can suppress hurricane activity in the Atlantic).
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 20 May 2026
Eastern Congo long has grappled with a humanitarian crisis and the threat of armed groups that have killed dozens and displaced thousands in Ituri in the past year.
—ABC News, 19 May 2026
This isn’t the first time the Dodgers have grappled with workload questions while projecting out a full season of Shohei Ohtani’s two-way schedule.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grappled
Verb
-
Miz and Axiom wrestled a nice, long match that was both of their best in years.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2026
-
Police say the children's mother and a 20-year-old son wrestled Smerer to stop him from going any further.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
In the final two minutes, Salaün grabbed two crucial rebounds, hit two free throws, and knocked down a clutch jumper that gave Golden State a 87-84 lead.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
Howard added 22 points and grabbed a team-best eight rebounds, and Miles added 16 points and eight assists.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Marcus Ingvartsen has become one of the league’s most efficient finishers, Anders Dreyer remains the club’s creative pulse and Mikey Varas’ team still plays with the possession-heavy ambition that caught everyone by surprise in its inaugural season.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
Tomato plants can make a healthy recovery and return to normal from curling leaves, especially if it’s caught early and adjustments are made.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Liliana Escobar made sure the Lions seized it.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
During the search, police said investigators allegedly seized 30 grams worth of fentanyl pills, 12 grams of crack cocaine, several digital scales, a BB gun, and two 9mm rounds of ammunition.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Cleveland snatched an immediate 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on back-to-back doubles by rookie leadoff hitter Travis Bazzana and star third baseman José Ramírez, but then Gray settled in and gave his team six innings of one-run ball on 92 pitches (58 for strikes).—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
-
After an early goal by the Italian forward Moise Kean provided a period of optimism, Bosnia and Herzegovina tied the score in the seventy-ninth minute, then snatched victory in penalty kicks, sending the home crowd into jubilation.—
Albert Samaha,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
With the goal, Ijeh has landed on the scoresheet in three straight matches.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
-
James, 62, landed on the ballot through a petition process.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Helicopter footage captured by NBC4 showed police tape cordoning off a section of the residential street, where a large number of emergency responders were gathered.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2026
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That task was best tackled by the great Brazilian poet Carlos Drummond de Andrade, whose tribute, published in the Jornal do Brasil, captured the nuances of the collective mood.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grappled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grappled. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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