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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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
Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026
Portland's climate fund continues to grow, even as much of the nation grapples with severe federal funding cuts for climate projects.
—Monica Samayoa, NPR, 20 May 2026
As Raul grapples with telling the story of Elsa’s life, he’s confronted by the murkiness of borrowing from real people for the purposes of fiction.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 19 May 2026
The region already grapples with a humanitarian crisis Mongbwalu in Ituri province is in a remote eastern part of the country, with poor road networks more than 620 miles from Kinshasa.
—Jean-Yves Kamale, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
The jump in yields comes as Warsh, who was confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday, grapples with an increasingly complicated inflation picture.
—Jeff Cox,hugh Leask,sean Conlon,lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 15 May 2026
Havana, Cuba — CIA Director John Ratcliffe led a US delegation to Havana to meet with Cuban government officials on Thursday as the island grapples with a collapse of its energy sector amid spiraling relations with the US.
—Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Amid the blossoming love between Pierre and Francis, one soldier grapples with a decision that illuminates the movie’s choice of title.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026
As the White House grapples with cybersecurity threats from advanced artificial intelligence models, national security officials want more sway in AI regulation.
—Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post, 11 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
Juliet also grapples with uncertainty—torn between family loyalty and authentic love — but shows more agency in her decisions than Romeo.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026
Portland's climate fund continues to grow, even as much of the nation grapples with severe federal funding cuts for climate projects.
—Monica Samayoa, NPR, 20 May 2026
As Raul grapples with telling the story of Elsa’s life, he’s confronted by the murkiness of borrowing from real people for the purposes of fiction.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 19 May 2026
The region already grapples with a humanitarian crisis Mongbwalu in Ituri province is in a remote eastern part of the country, with poor road networks more than 620 miles from Kinshasa.
—Jean-Yves Kamale, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
The jump in yields comes as Warsh, who was confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday, grapples with an increasingly complicated inflation picture.
—Jeff Cox,hugh Leask,sean Conlon,lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 15 May 2026
Havana, Cuba — CIA Director John Ratcliffe led a US delegation to Havana to meet with Cuban government officials on Thursday as the island grapples with a collapse of its energy sector amid spiraling relations with the US.
—Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Amid the blossoming love between Pierre and Francis, one soldier grapples with a decision that illuminates the movie’s choice of title.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026
As the White House grapples with cybersecurity threats from advanced artificial intelligence models, national security officials want more sway in AI regulation.
—Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post, 11 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapples
Noun
-
With all these features and a unique design that eliminates all the rattling and imprecise grips of conventional wrenches, this tool could find frequent use in your workshop.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
18 May 2026
-
Modern technology lets pitchers experiment with grips and spins to create gnarly movement and ambush batters with off-speed action.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Those struggles can manifest in a range of ways, McClanahan said, from finding new coping mechanisms to replace food to ongoing body image concerns, even after weight loss.—
Stephanie Anderson Witmer,
Health,
14 May 2026
-
During the meeting, teams spoke about their struggles to support their travel to competitions.—
Katie Servas,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
This film wrestles with that desire, centring on Yod.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 May 2026
-
The Esperanza junior, who wrestles at 113 pounds, strained a knee during the Doc Buchanan tournament in Clovis in January.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At one point, in one of the videos, Kyle Busch grabs his son’s shoulders affectionately.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
22 May 2026
-
Flower sandals are one of those shoe styles that immediately grabs you.—
Rosana Lai,
Glamour,
22 May 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
-
One of the fiercest divisional rivalries in the NFL will have a new look to it.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
Cherfilus-McCormick referenced a previous interaction with Wasserman Schultz, signaling that political rivalries could intensify if both enter the race for District 20.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Rice, one of the team's better receivers with 156 catches his first three NFL seasons, has proven that he cannot be trusted to stay out of trouble.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
When the stock market sneezes, California state government catches pneumonia.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
But if both of those battles end up as washes, the Knicks could pull away in this series because their work on the glass earns them extra shots.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
Trustees increasingly want leaders capable of navigating not only fundraising and research growth, but also the political battles reshaping higher education.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grapples.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapples. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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