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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of grapples
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
Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
The track grapples with his struggle to process a drive-by shooting that nearly took his life and offered a glimpse at his artistry to come, characterized by his raw, unflinching lyrics.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026
Powered largely by voters of color and women, the party still grapples with how to frame issues of race, gender and transgender rights without fracturing its coalition.
—Gromer Jeffers Jr, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Her ceiling has always been high, but the redshirt sophomore still grapples with inconsistencies that Auriemma has little tolerance for.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2026
His announcement comes as the city grapples with a budget shortfall and makes unpopular moves to increase revenue, including charging for parking at Balboa Park.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Nina McConigley’s How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder grapples with these ideas, riffing on the idea of overthrow by narrowing the focus from national boundaries to familial ones.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Sophie considers accepting a position elsewhere in light of everything that has happened, while Benedict grapples with what choosing Sophie could mean for his social standing.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The district hopes these resources will help keep families in the district as Austin ISD grapples with recent enrollment losses.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
The series grapples with the media invasion that swirled around them.
—Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
The track grapples with his struggle to process a drive-by shooting that nearly took his life and offered a glimpse at his artistry to come, characterized by his raw, unflinching lyrics.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026
Powered largely by voters of color and women, the party still grapples with how to frame issues of race, gender and transgender rights without fracturing its coalition.
—Gromer Jeffers Jr, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Her ceiling has always been high, but the redshirt sophomore still grapples with inconsistencies that Auriemma has little tolerance for.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2026
His announcement comes as the city grapples with a budget shortfall and makes unpopular moves to increase revenue, including charging for parking at Balboa Park.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Nina McConigley’s How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder grapples with these ideas, riffing on the idea of overthrow by narrowing the focus from national boundaries to familial ones.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Sophie considers accepting a position elsewhere in light of everything that has happened, while Benedict grapples with what choosing Sophie could mean for his social standing.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The district hopes these resources will help keep families in the district as Austin ISD grapples with recent enrollment losses.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapples
Noun
-
Some states have attempted to come to grips with their histories.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Both with features like adjustable suspension, multiple riding modes, heated grips and seats, and Pirelli tires.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Focusing on Mental Health Everything changed when a 24-year-old Simone Biles withdrew from the finals during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, mentioning her mental health struggles.—
Kristy Alpert,
Outside,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Her struggles are relatable, and her emotional victories — which often involve calling in help from Bandit, or her neighbor Wendy — feel likewise within reach.—
Miranda Rake,
Parents,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This season, silence is louder than words, loyalties are tested, and as each woman wrestles with the past, not everyone will make it to the other side the same.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
5 Jan. 2026
-
The police officer then wrestles Newman to the ground, and no shots are fired.—
Kate Reilly,
NBC news,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Cathy goes to wipe her fingers on her skirt, but Heathcliff instead grabs her hand and puts her fingers in his mouth.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Soon thereafter, a gear fishing pal of yours gifted you an old, unused fly rod, and that totally grabs a hold of you and completely directs the rest of your life.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
11 Feb. 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
-
In a sport historically defined by fierce rivalries and intense behind-the-scenes competition, three athletes who could be battling each other for the same prize have instead chosen friendship.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Long gone are the days of catty rivalries between Tonya and Nancy, Michelle and Tara.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
So, this is about when undeniable attraction catches you off guard, but also the enormous consequences of following that urge and that feeling, and the consequences of that for the families around you, however innocent your intent is.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Try the Storm Chaser, which sends you into a zero-gravity fall, catches you in a funnel, then discards you into a pool below.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The series of legal battles and a looming referendum take aim at an unprecedented special session in which lawmakers redrew the state’s congressional districts.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Almost fifty years ahead of the battles of World War II, the Marquis de Morès had faced death in order to avoid handing Africa over to the British and the Jews.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grapples.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapples. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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