Synonyms of grappled

grappled

verb

past tense of grapple

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

• wrestled
• fought
• tussled
• scuffled
• battled
• brawled
• contended
• combated
• rassled
• punched
• struck
• buffeted
• dueled
• hit
• sparred
• battered
• slugged
• skirmished
• clashed (with)
• bashed
• warred (against)
• boxed
• beat

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

• grabbed
• caught
• seized
• snatched
• landed
• captured
• trapped
• got
• snared
• rapped
• snagged
• nailed
• corralled
• hooked
• netted
• copped
• nabbed
• grasped
• snapped (up)
• bagged
• clutched
• collared
• took hold (of)
• held
• nobbled
• glommed
• gripped
• arrested
• roped
• apprehended
• clasped
• gloved
• secured
• cornered
• detained
• lassoed
• enmeshed
• ensnared
• entangled
• fisted
• wrested
• fastened (on)
• kidnapped
• meshed
• latched (on or onto)
• entrapped
• haltered
• abducted
• bayed
• rent
• spirited (away or off)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• missed
• released
• discharged
• freed
• liberated
• dropped
• loosened
• unhanded

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of grappled

The White House has grappled with how to address the cost of living ahead of the midterms, which are less than two weeks away. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026

The penalty, one of the largest ever levied against Meta or any other company, is the latest legal hit to the social media giant, which has grappled with lawsuits over allegations of social media addiction and child safety. — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Many before and since have grappled with the price of salvation, but rarely has such a theologically vast decision felt this intimate. — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026

Trump or other parts of the executive branch have also, in policy and in the courts, grappled with The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press and The New York Times. — Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026

Rather, it's grappled by Canadarm2, which berths it to the station and moves it around in other ways as necessary. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 9 Oct. 2026

While the university grappled with yet another football scandal, an Ann Arbor moving crew simply got to work—sorting, packing and hauling away the remnants of a fallen career, one item at a time, over the span of six hours. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Washington — The Supreme Court on Monday grappled with a complex dispute involving an effort by the city and county of Boulder, Colorado, to hold energy companies accountable for the effects of global climate change. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

After a passenger grabbed the copilot and pulled him out, and others grappled with the man to subdue him, Schlichter said that one of the traveling pilots practically hurtled the scrum to enter the cockpit and seize the controls. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026