1
as in grip
the act or manner of holding
was simply unable to break my opponent's viselike grapple and lost the wrestling match
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in struggle
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
after a grapple with his conscience, he confessed to having an affair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to wrestle
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
2
as in to grab
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to address
to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently
a medical ethicist who grapples with extremely difficult questions all the time
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of grapple
NPR, 25 Oct. 2025
Has anyone ever seen a mummy grapple?
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Anniek Bao, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
Residents across the Baltimore region are grappling with freezing temperatures after Sunday's winter storm, which dumped inches of snow and sleet.
—Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grapple
Noun
The matches are intense, with powerful throws and strategic grapples, and the crowd's energy adds to the electric atmosphere.
—NPR, 25 Oct. 2025
Has anyone ever seen a mummy grapple?
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
Profits at the country’s major industrial firms have been battered by the bruising price wars sweeping across several industries last year as sluggish consumer demands left companies grappling with excess capacity.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
Residents across the Baltimore region are grappling with freezing temperatures after Sunday's winter storm, which dumped inches of snow and sleet.
—Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapple
Noun
-
Art requires distance, and Tanner is so genuinely in the grip of intense family emotion that this father and son sometimes seem more real than theatrically compelling.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
But if Rubio is serious about breaking China's grip on critical minerals, his summit should devote equal attention to building up the secondary market for recycled materials.—
Kristen Edgreen Kaufman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Hyland, who’d been a revelation prior to his recent struggles, regained form in the win.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Unlearn that struggle equals success.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Neither girl has an amazing grasp on the words, but Kenya is about 300 times more entertaining.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2026
-
To build their robot hand, the engineers began by creating a digital library of human hand grasp postures.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In a city where detentions have largely played out on the streets, Homan’s comments have highlighted a battle that has been unfolding in the background.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The exercise of power, not surprisingly, contributed to the restlessness of a busy mind that waged battles against a committed opposition.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
At this time, applications for projects in the business incentives category and arts, culture and activation category are temporarily on hold, according to the DDA website.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Another plan to develop a series of futuristic-looking hotels along the Red Sea coast, collectively known as Magma, has been put on hold, the people said.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That sets Chavez and Crump up to be the future of this rivalry, which dates back to 1979.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
31 Jan. 2026
-
This transformed a political rivalry into a blood feud.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But landing big jumps in competition, when adrenaline duels with cortisol, is more difficult.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Darnold endured more growing pains during his rookie season but also showed flashes of excellence, including throwing three touchdown passes in a duel with Aaron Rodgers during an overtime loss to the Green Bay Packers.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Lloyd’s building is strong evidence for Alan Moore’s contention that the imaginary is the foundation of the physical world.—
Hari Kunzru,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
McNealy finished second to Ludvig Åberg at the 2025 Genesis Invitational, coincidentally held at Torrey Pines—after a closing-round 64 vaulted him firmly into contention.—
Jeff Goudy,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapple. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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