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
Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
One of the few moments where the contenders didn’t interrupt each other or throw out attack lines came when they were asked about their plans to save Hollywood, as the industry grapples with a production flight to other states and countries.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 5 May 2026
As Santa Clara County grapples with a $787 million dollar deficit, its healthcare system is likely to feel the brunt of a proposal that calls for slashing 464 positions countywide.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 2 May 2026
While the film grapples with Dexter’s (Sturgess) addictions and patience-testing roguishness toward her, Hathaway and director Lone Scherfig never land on a compelling reason for Emma to put up with it.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
This enthusiasm comes even as the party grapples with record-low voter approval ratings.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 23 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, United Airlines slashed its full-year earnings outlook yesterday as the air carrier grapples with soaring fuel costs.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
Magid delivers its recommendations as TV-news grapples with some severe challenges.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
The attack claimed 168 lives, including 19 children, and left a lasting scar on families, first responders and an entire nation that still grapples with the tragedy decades later.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 19 Apr. 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
In March, Beijing set its lowest growth target in decades, as the world’s second-largest economy grapples with weak domestic demand and an uncertain global outlook.
—Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
One of the few moments where the contenders didn’t interrupt each other or throw out attack lines came when they were asked about their plans to save Hollywood, as the industry grapples with a production flight to other states and countries.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 5 May 2026
As Santa Clara County grapples with a $787 million dollar deficit, its healthcare system is likely to feel the brunt of a proposal that calls for slashing 464 positions countywide.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 2 May 2026
While the film grapples with Dexter’s (Sturgess) addictions and patience-testing roguishness toward her, Hathaway and director Lone Scherfig never land on a compelling reason for Emma to put up with it.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
This enthusiasm comes even as the party grapples with record-low voter approval ratings.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 23 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, United Airlines slashed its full-year earnings outlook yesterday as the air carrier grapples with soaring fuel costs.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
Magid delivers its recommendations as TV-news grapples with some severe challenges.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
The attack claimed 168 lives, including 19 children, and left a lasting scar on families, first responders and an entire nation that still grapples with the tragedy decades later.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapples
Noun
-
Hosmer’s video showed evidence the Red Sox might have been identifying pitch grips from Valdez’s glove and relaying signs to hitters when a runner was on second base.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
-
Livro and Vico have escaped the grips of the neighborhood gang and are going to work for Ivan, doing maintenance on his yacht.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
And, perhaps, his mental-health struggles, his mood swings, and the antisocial behaviors that The Dark Wizard recounts and suggests were the cost of — or maybe the reason for — his athletic prowess.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
-
Yet those absences alone cannot explain the breadth of struggles threatening the Astros’ season.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
This is definitely something that every fan wrestles with.—
Dan Shanoff,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Fans start to notice what's happening about five seconds into it, and then another man comes up behind the fan, grabs him and tackles him into the seats.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
And if no candidate grabs a majority in either of those races, this district’s voters might have to go to the polls four times.—
East Bay Times editorial board,
Mercury News,
7 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
-
That’s why the series’ episodes that focus specifically on his rivalries with other climbers, in particular Honnold and Hunt, feel the most enlightening.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
-
The unanimous decision came during a nine-hour-long meeting that included several tense moments arising out of longstanding political rivalries.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
The pair hope the wood-fire concept catches a spark in the area.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
-
Also, Andrew Greif catches you up on the NHL playoffs, as round 2 is underway there, too.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
That means the knock-down, drag-out government shutdown battles that have become a Washington ritual are, in effect, a fight over a little more than a quarter of the federal ledger.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Marr's legal battles with State Farm started in 1999, when Marr says the insurer denied a claim that a friend filed for tornado damage.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grapples.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapples. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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