1
as in wrestling
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
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2
as in grabbing
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 grappling
The wind changing direction meant Norris and Piastri were grappling with a subsequent handling issue.
—
Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Floridians are already grappling with a housing crisis, skyrocketing insurance costs and growing economic instability.
—Jon Harris Maurer, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026
Over the past decade or so, hourly workers across an increasing number of industries have been grappling with erratic schedules that their employers put in place using technology designed to minimize labor costs and maximize productivity.
—Huo Jingnan, NPR, 3 May 2026
David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Investors are grappling with elevated oil prices and persistent geopolitical tensions, but those who can ignore short-term noise may be better positioned for the long run.
—Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for grappling
Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Floridians are already grappling with a housing crisis, skyrocketing insurance costs and growing economic instability.
—Jon Harris Maurer, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026
Over the past decade or so, hourly workers across an increasing number of industries have been grappling with erratic schedules that their employers put in place using technology designed to minimize labor costs and maximize productivity.
—Huo Jingnan, NPR, 3 May 2026
David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Investors are grappling with elevated oil prices and persistent geopolitical tensions, but those who can ignore short-term noise may be better positioned for the long run.
—Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for grappling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grappling
Verb
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The Congress is not wrestling with big or important questions right now.—
Scott Pelley,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
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Document management doesn’t have to mean chasing down signatures or wrestling with clunky PDF tools.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Other complaints had to do with the Puerto Rican rap star grabbing his crotch, and with two dancers who allegedly grabbed each other's breasts (which, if true, is a wild dance move).—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
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Particularly since the savings made in service-staff costs and brick-and-mortar bar space, not to mention the affordability of buying booze here in China's RMB currency, aren't that far off grabbing a can or bottle from a nearby 24-hour convenience store.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 May 2026
Verb
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After fighting valiantly to ward off injury, the horse was euthanized in 2007, his courageous battle forever remembered at Churchill Downs, where his statue stands outside of Gate 1.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
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Moscow's troops have been fighting in Ukraine for well over four years - longer than the Soviet involvement, from 1941-45, in what Russians refer to as the Great Patriotic War.—
Guy Faulconbridge,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
Verb
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The Chicago White Sox have been searching for offensive production from the catching position.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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Sophomore Nate Roberts is a 6-5, 240-pounder who has blocking experience and showed off versatility catching passes in the spring.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The video game company generated buzz in 2021 after retail investors, mobilizing on Reddit, started snatching up GameStop shares, driving it up more than 2,000%.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
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Instead, Hull will face Millwall over two legs after snatching the sixth place that had been in Wrexham’s possession when the final day got underway.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
3 May 2026
Verb
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Bianco also faces scrutiny for seizing more than 650,000 election ballots in what critics call a baseless fraud investigation.—
Hailey Wang,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
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Four protesters are suing to stop the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from seizing DNA samples from Americans arrested while peacefully protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
7 May 2026
Verb
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For these artisans of light, the process was less about capturing the moment than crafting an image.—
Robb Rice,
Robb Report,
10 May 2026
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Israel has since carried out hundreds of airstrikes and launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, capturing dozens of towns and villages along the border.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 May 2026
Verb
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The Dark Knight’s wheels are getting a winter upgrade.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
8 May 2026
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And second, our views of the future tend to be dark, and seem to be getting darker.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grappling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grappling. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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