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

But the Army is also opening its ranges as the Pentagon grapples with the costs of the Iran war, which has diminished the nation's stockpiles of advanced weapons that sometimes cost millions of dollars for a single missile or interceptor. — ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026 Macdonald said the deal lands as the airline sector grapples with multiple pressure points. — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026 The movie grapples with these difficult issues and recognizes that there aren’t easy answers. — Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026 And as the nation grapples with a rapidly aging population that experts believe will increase loneliness, experts say Guthrie’s abduction underscores the importance of making social connection a collective priority, not just an individual one. — Taylor Seely, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026 In the churning pool, Max grapples with Tom, who locks him in a stranglehold. — Jp Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 2026 One mom grapples with filling her time with activities that fill her cup while craving time with her kids during summer break. — Isobella Jade, Parents, 30 July 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapples

Noun

Puerto Rico will implement water rationing measures in San Juan and other major cities starting today as a drought grips the territory.

— Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026
Plant operators have reduced output to about 10% of normal production, prompting the government to introduce emergency conservation measures as a record-breaking heat wave grips the country.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of grips

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

Verb

Cavatappi’s corkscrew shape catches every bite of the creamy sauce, but elbow macaroni or small shells work just as well.

— Inés Anguiano, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Aug. 2026
Payer rules get hand-coded, while clinical edge cases get patched one at a time, usually after someone downstream catches the mistake.

— Fawad Butt, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of catches

Noun

Louder Than Fear, directed by Justin Krook and Michael Dwyer, documents the star’s journey to fame and his personal battles, including the aftermath of his 2008 private plane crash.

— Daniela Avila, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
The eviction process was protracted and followed a series of complex legal battles led by residents of the encampment, who organized as a collective to advocate for their rights.

— Zac Ntim, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026