GRAPPLED (WITH) Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

grappled (with)

verb

past tense of grapple (with)

as in addressed

to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently a medical ethicist who grapples with extremely difficult questions all the time

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for grappled (with)

Verb

In a post last week, Musk also addressed the government's relationship to Starlink and its missile-tracking Starshield program.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
In 2020, a soil scientist from Washington State University addressed this, shortly after Seattle founded the first US company, Recompose, to commercialize NOR.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of addressed

Verb

The October 19 exercise tested how the vessel handled changing mission requirements and simulated machinery failures without onboard crew intervention.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
Braking is handled by dual-piston hydraulic calipers clamping down on large rotors for the promise of serious stopping power even in wet weather.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of handled

Verb

But the things that tend to be more manageable are interiors, like a child's bedroom, but even those have so many details that have to be thought of and designed and built and manipulated.

— Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the Pentagon has not manipulated the service.

— Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of manipulated

Verb

These products have long been treated as compromises — fallbacks for pet owners or renters.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
But the familiarity of the fantasy elements and the brusqueness with which they’re treated would be forgivable if Wildwood did a better job exploring how the real world connects to the magical side of the story.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of treated

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grappled

grappled (with)

grapples

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Style

“Grappled (with).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grappled%20%28with%29. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of grappled (with)

verb

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