GRAPPLES Synonyms: 135 Similar and Opposite Words

grapples 1 of 2

noun

plural of grapple

as in grips

the act or manner of holding was simply unable to break my opponent's viselike grapple and lost the wrestling match

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in struggles

an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another after a grapple with his conscience, he confessed to having an affair

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grapples

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of grapple

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

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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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of grapples

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

As the Middle East grapples with declining stability owing to the Iran war, cities across Asia are experiencing notable improvements driven by sustained healthcare investments. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 23 July 2026 The industry also grapples with influencers promoting unrealistic strategies, though firms like Take Profit Trader are adjusting. — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Though distinct from Mei in his disengagement from political struggle, Chris too grapples with these questions of forever and never. — Dylan Adamson, IndieWire, 21 July 2026 Amodei’s assessment of the dangers may be right or wrong, but an ad that grapples with those risks is arguably more honest than previous campaigns that present Claude as a tool for tinkerers and problem solvers. — Harry Booth, Time, 17 July 2026 Gideon said Rojas wanted to make sure that Durán, who was killed by an ICE officer on Monday, was remembered the right way as the nation grapples with two ICE shootings in less than a week. — Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 16 July 2026 The focus on those aspects of competition come amid concerns that the merger would lead to widespread layoffs as the combined company grapples with its debt burden. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 13 July 2026 Television City, one of the most famous studios in the entertainment industry where generations of TV shows have been created, is expected to hit the market again as its owner grapples with debt. — Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026 One part of the story that the new series intentionally grapples with is the Ingalls family’s relationship with the Osage Nation, since the family is illegally living on their land. — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 11 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapples

Noun

Džumhur ultimately prevailed 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 7-6(4) in three hours and 42 minutes, but the incident was another example of players not yet getting to grips with how ELC works.

— James Hansen, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Markets are underestimating the impact of climate volatility across asset classes, commodity strategists warn, as extreme heat grips Europe and meteorologists flag the risk of a powerful El Niño this year.

— Hugh Leask, CNBC, 20 July 2026

Definition of grips

Noun

There are also examples of schools that reject students with academic or behavioral struggles.

— Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
In a place whose people are forced to endure the same struggles as their parents (to paraphrase one of this film’s most aching laments), time will always be a flat circle.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 22 July 2026

Definition of struggles

Verb

Season 1 reportedly will be centered around DC bad guy Gorilla Grodd, who often wrestles The Flash.

— Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 8 July 2026
Francis also wrestles occasionally for Boca Raton Championship Wrestling in South Florida and competed prior for Coastal Championship Wrestling in South and Central Florida.

— James Varsallone, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026

Definition of wrestles

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

Definition of grasps

Noun

Goodall has become the dominant force in ring building in the UK, working for almost every conceivable promoter — unusual in itself given this is a sport built on such fierce sporting and commercial rivalries.

— Chris McKenna, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Jurors also heard testimony from investigators and gang experts about the rivalries, alliances and subgroups that make up Sacramento’s street gang landscape.

— Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of rivalries

Noun

This week, an over-the-hill Kevin Hart, (pickleball) court battles, and Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie (and its related series), among others, demand your attention.

— Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 24 July 2026
These individuals are already fighting some of the most difficult battles of their lives.

— Jigar Thakkar, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026