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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of grappling
Airports across the country are grappling with hundreds of delays and cancellations, driven by a deepening air traffic controller shortage and the ongoing government shutdown.
—
Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Nov. 2025
Republicans grappling with Tuesday’s Democratic romp are warning the White House that no matter how many foreign policy goals the president achieves, voters will care about the economy more.
—Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 7 Nov. 2025
The results may also reflect residents grappling with the county’s ongoing housing and affordability crisis.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2025
School districts and law enforcement across the country have been grappling with this issue as school shootings continue unabated.
—Alana Semuels, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grappling
Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Nov. 2025
Republicans grappling with Tuesday’s Democratic romp are warning the White House that no matter how many foreign policy goals the president achieves, voters will care about the economy more.
—Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 7 Nov. 2025
The results may also reflect residents grappling with the county’s ongoing housing and affordability crisis.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2025
School districts and law enforcement across the country have been grappling with this issue as school shootings continue unabated.
—Alana Semuels, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grappling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grappling
Verb
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The state's utility regulator, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), is also wrestling with the issues data centers raise.—
Keith Matheny,
Freep.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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Panels, policy rooms, and WhatsApp threads across the continent are wrestling with the same questions.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The 5-11 200-pound standout has accumulated mind-boggling stats through nine games -- 1,098 rushing yards and 17 TDs while grabbing a team-leading 42 passes for 974 yards and 18 scores.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
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Nikola Jokic put up 26 points on 12 of 15 shooting, while also dishing out nine assists and grabbing nine rebounds.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Barton gave the jury the impression of a man prepared to go into daily combat on numerous fronts, constantly fighting one battle after another, in service of his principles.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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The Justice Department under him was not really interested in fighting crime.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Chasing young shoppers has long been job number one in fashion — but actually catching them has never been so hard.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
10 Nov. 2025
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Marion had the breakout game, catching all three of his targets for 116 yards and a 61-yard touchdown.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Keep going and the path climbs to the top of the arch, a high perch with breath-snatching panoramas.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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The Shea Moisture Define & Shine Edge Gel slicks my edges back without snatching them to hell.—
Kayla Greaves,
Essence,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Monday’s agreement stems from the August 2023 search of the Marion County Record, as well as the home of the paper’s publisher and a councilwoman, seizing reporters’ cell phones and computers, among other items.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
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Since seizing power, the Burmese military has waged an unrelenting campaign of terror.—
Kim Aris,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The odds are stacked against independent and specialty films capturing audience attention.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
7 Nov. 2025
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In 2021, after homing in on wet processing as a major hot spot, Kering purchased the first 15 of PlanetCare’s commercial microfiber filters, capable of capturing 90 percent of shed strands, to install in several knitwear facilities in Italy.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Big Ten pushed for a model that would have each power conference receive multiple automatic bids, with the Big Ten and SEC each receiving four and the ACC and Big 12 each getting two.—
Ralph D. Russo,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
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And the back part of that is that the most fun is getting to act opposite people who are incredibly good, which is true for this cast.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grappling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grappling. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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