1
as in grips
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 struggles
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 wrestles
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 grabs
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
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Recent Examples of grapples
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Apr. 2026
Ritchson's 81 grapples with a severe case of survivor's guilt after watching his brother die in Afghanistan.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Four days of grapples, reversals and takedowns are on deck at Grand Casino Arena.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 Feb. 2026
As the entertainment industry in general and Hollywood in particular grapples with the heartbreaking deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner over the weekend, tributes to the beloved couple continue to pour in far and wide.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 17 Dec. 2025
How One Battle After Another grapples with the best ways to wage a revolution.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2025
The matches are intense, with powerful throws and strategic grapples, and the crowd's energy adds to the electric atmosphere.
—NPR, 25 Oct. 2025
Ghesquière said the approach stood out as fashion grapples with the advances of new technologies.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Second, the report grapples seriously with agentic AI — autonomous systems capable of planning, reasoning, and executing multi-step tasks without continuous human direction.
—Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Disclosure Day is far from Spielberg's first project that grapples with the existence of alien life.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 10 June 2026
While wondering if his beloved will ever return, Jesse also grapples with grief, paranoia and family drama.
—Caroline Killilea, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
The series really grapples with the media invasion that swirled around them.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
As Rose grapples with the gaps in her memory, the two encounter danger and violence.
—The Know, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
But it's seen a temporary reprieve on the purchasing of some Russian oil amid the war with Iran, as the world grapples with high oil prices.
—Richard Escobedo, CBS News, 31 May 2026
In a morose Season 2, the group, now shrunken to a fivesome, with Ginny and her baby sometimes in tow, grapples with life after Nick and what their respective next chapters might bring.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 28 May 2026
Noun
Engineers will equip it with specialized tools, including grapples, cutters, and buckets.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Apr. 2026
Ritchson's 81 grapples with a severe case of survivor's guilt after watching his brother die in Afghanistan.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Four days of grapples, reversals and takedowns are on deck at Grand Casino Arena.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 Feb. 2026
As the entertainment industry in general and Hollywood in particular grapples with the heartbreaking deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner over the weekend, tributes to the beloved couple continue to pour in far and wide.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 17 Dec. 2025
How One Battle After Another grapples with the best ways to wage a revolution.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2025
The matches are intense, with powerful throws and strategic grapples, and the crowd's energy adds to the electric atmosphere.
—NPR, 25 Oct. 2025
Ghesquière said the approach stood out as fashion grapples with the advances of new technologies.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
Roaring and grunting, his body sleek with blood and sweat, Conan tussles and grapples with a series of opponents, dominating them all, while an audience of torch-wielding vulgarians shouts and howls at the pit’s lip.
—Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Second, the report grapples seriously with agentic AI — autonomous systems capable of planning, reasoning, and executing multi-step tasks without continuous human direction.
—Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Disclosure Day is far from Spielberg's first project that grapples with the existence of alien life.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 10 June 2026
While wondering if his beloved will ever return, Jesse also grapples with grief, paranoia and family drama.
—Caroline Killilea, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
The series really grapples with the media invasion that swirled around them.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
As Rose grapples with the gaps in her memory, the two encounter danger and violence.
—The Know, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
But it's seen a temporary reprieve on the purchasing of some Russian oil amid the war with Iran, as the world grapples with high oil prices.
—Richard Escobedo, CBS News, 31 May 2026
In a morose Season 2, the group, now shrunken to a fivesome, with Ginny and her baby sometimes in tow, grapples with life after Nick and what their respective next chapters might bring.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapples
Noun
-
The latter adds features such as heated grips, a tire-pressure monitoring system, an adjustable windscreen, cornering lights, and a luggage rack.—
Utkarsh Sood
June 16,
New Atlas,
16 June 2026
-
Several nations are advancing efforts toward digital independence and are also teaming up to counter Washington’s and Beijing’s tightening grips over the technology.—
Tasneem Nashrulla,
semafor.com,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Prices of essential goods have soared and many people have lost their jobs, with millions now at risk of falling into poverty amid widespread economic struggles.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
-
Not by putting anyone on blast and not by outing anyone’s struggles, but by keeping the burden of truth squarely on my shoulders.—
Ali Lerman,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
The officer then wrestles the woman to the ground.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
-
If Kittle wrestles a crocodile down under, who is winning?—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
The design is what grabs your attention at first sight.—
Utkarsh Sood
June 12,
New Atlas,
12 June 2026
-
The goal is to have a welcoming environment that grabs visitors' attention.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Through universal intelligent manipulation, the robot autonomously plans grasps, adjusts force in real time, and navigates obstacles using seamless hand–eye coordination.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The Hurricanes needed that to happen after the game nearly slipped out of their grasps.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
From legendary investors to rising disruptors, host Maneet Ahuja unpacks the convictions, rivalries and bold ideas driving today’s markets and tomorrow’s economy.—
Maneet Ahuja,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
While the two keep drinking and wait for a rare lunar event, old grievances, outrageous escapades, and macho rivalries explode to the surface.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
The shimmer catches the light in all the right places—think collarbones, shoulders, and shins—while the summery scent options evoke beach days with notes like coconut, sunflower, and pineapple.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
19 June 2026
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Those tests include answering questions under a sudden, blinding interrogation light (a bit that reliably catches her guests off guard) and sketching a personal family crest mid-conversation.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Related Stories The project will explore Gaudí’s life, inner battles and spiritual evolution, framing the architect as a radical creative force shaped by faith and an increasingly austere existence.—
Emiliano de Pablos,
Variety,
16 June 2026
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What follows is a wildly chaotic getaway featuring inflatable bubble-ball battles, awkward matchmaking schemes, disastrous sabotage attemptsand even an emergency dolphin CPR situation.—
Lily Brown,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grapples.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapples. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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