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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of grapples
Steve Drummond, NPR, 9 Sep. 2025
Ghesquière said the approach stood out as fashion grapples with the advances of new technologies.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Such work would be an important reality check as society grapples with this kind of emerging threat from AI, says Casadevall, but would be tricky to do, as it might be precluded by international treaties prohibiting the development of biological weapons.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
The industry uproar over Norwood comes as Hollywood grapples with the increasing intersection of AI and film and TV production.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2025
While Tommy grapples with his complicated family life and a still-grieving Cami settles into her new position at the company, the undercurrent of just how dangerous the oil business is can't be ignored.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
The robust programming helped BIFF achieve its highest attendance in recent years, reinforcing the festival’s position as a crucial launchpad for Asian cinema even as the Korean industry grapples with unprecedented challenges.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
The debate comes as the city grapples with rising service costs and high living expenses.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2025
As Missouri grapples with the fallout from the chaotic special session, the gerrymandered congressional map and the initiative petition overhaul are poised to face fierce resistance over the next several weeks.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2025
Hinako grapples with coming of age in Japan's Showa era.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
In her podcast, the high school senior grapples with her family's history and questions her own national identity.
—Steve Drummond, NPR, 9 Sep. 2025
Ghesquière said the approach stood out as fashion grapples with the advances of new technologies.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
Global routes via the Panama Canal, meanwhile, have been disrupted by low water levels as the region grapples with severe drought.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Such work would be an important reality check as society grapples with this kind of emerging threat from AI, says Casadevall, but would be tricky to do, as it might be precluded by international treaties prohibiting the development of biological weapons.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
The industry uproar over Norwood comes as Hollywood grapples with the increasing intersection of AI and film and TV production.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2025
While Tommy grapples with his complicated family life and a still-grieving Cami settles into her new position at the company, the undercurrent of just how dangerous the oil business is can't be ignored.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
The robust programming helped BIFF achieve its highest attendance in recent years, reinforcing the festival’s position as a crucial launchpad for Asian cinema even as the Korean industry grapples with unprecedented challenges.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
The debate comes as the city grapples with rising service costs and high living expenses.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2025
As Missouri grapples with the fallout from the chaotic special session, the gerrymandered congressional map and the initiative petition overhaul are poised to face fierce resistance over the next several weeks.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2025
Hinako grapples with coming of age in Japan's Showa era.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapples
Noun
-
New data showed manufacturing contracted this month, but less than expected, a hopeful indication that authorities may be coming to grips with industrial overcapacity.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Now, the father-daughter pair work together on the show as grips, the department responsible for camera support, rigging and more.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
As Rogers’ rocky form will testify, Villa’s attacking struggles have not been through a lack of service, but rather the profligacy in possession.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
In correspondence that Khan made available to the investigators, his accuser appears to be very warm, prone to disclosure about her personal life and struggles, highly solicitous of Khan and his wife, and perhaps overeager.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
D'Vontaye Mitchell's widow still wrestles with grief In her letter, Harmon said all four men need to be held accountable in Mitchell's death and that she is still traumatized by memory of receiving the call informing her that her husband was gone.—
Chris Ramirez,
jsonline.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Treutelaar, who also wrestles and plays lacrosse, attended football camps at Georgia, Illinois, Kansas State, Northwestern and Ohio State this summer and plans to follow in the footsteps of his father, Justin, a former Purdue long snapper.—
Bobby Narang,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
When virtual particle pairs pop into existence at the edge of black holes, sometimes the black hole’s gravity grabs one partner while the other escapes.—
Dipangkar Dutta,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
-
When Catalina goes into the kitchen to refill her calabash, Frances grabs the box of Thompson paperbacks and makes a run for Ray at the restaurant.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Hurricanes needed that to happen after the game nearly slipped out of their grasps.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Halakhic rulings on divorce, medical emergencies, or conversion involve nuance that no present-day model grasps.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
This sense of competition has caused countless promotions to create timeless matches and rivalries that have stood the test of time, whether your looking at the Territories Era, the Monday Night Wars between WWE and WCW, or the rivalry between NJPW and AJPW in Japan.—
Jeremy Hanna,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
What was one of the best rivalries in the 1980s and 90s has lost some of its luster more recently, with one or both of the programs being down for much of the last decade.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
From this point of view, Xidan Books may seem to suffer from comparison with the Zhongshuge chain, whose outlets are drawing increasing numbers of Beijing readers thanks to interior design that catches the eye and spurs a desire to linger at length.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
-
But there are specific pointers for ensuring your trap catches the intruder.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Where many of Krishna’s battles end in death for the aggressor, this story is remarkable for its mercy—Krishna spares Kaliya after the snake’s wives and children emerge from the pond to plead on his behalf.—
Seamus Sullivan
September 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Sheen described being at the center of seven family interventions, countless affairs, legal battles and messy divorces.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grapples.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapples. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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