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
Today, the retail sector is grappling with a slowdown in spending in China, but this time against a backdrop of war in Ukraine and in Gaza, and the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
—
Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2025
The country was still grappling with the blackout as of Tuesday, more than 24 hours later.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
Reinvention and Identity For many athletes, leaving the game means grappling with identity.
—John Armwood Iii, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
In the final episode of House of Guinness, Arthur is grappling with the threat of an assassination plot during his second campaign for Parliament.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grappling
Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2025
The country was still grappling with the blackout as of Tuesday, more than 24 hours later.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
Reinvention and Identity For many athletes, leaving the game means grappling with identity.
—John Armwood Iii, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
In the final episode of House of Guinness, Arthur is grappling with the threat of an assassination plot during his second campaign for Parliament.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grappling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grappling
Verb
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Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate are now wrestling under different monikers as part of their new masked gimmick.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
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With Austin Reaves shooing Hachimura off-stage and playfully wrestling the mic away.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Securing the Shield ensures the top seed for Philly and home-field advantage throughout the MLS Cup playoffs for a team that has quietly gone about a consistent season without grabbing much in the way of attention.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
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Without strangers lunging at her and grabbing her forearm.—
Romina Ruiz-Goiriena,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Meet Nashville's new crime-fighting Clydesdale Metro Nashville mounted patrol officer Michael Douglas squeezed a three-foot-long rubber chicken, producing an increasingly louder and closer screeching sound to try and provoke a 1,700-pound Clydesdale named Ross.—
Laura L. Davis,
Nashville Tennessean,
6 Oct. 2025
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The event, launched in 1982, celebrates the freedom to read and express ideas and emphasizes the importance of fighting censorship.—
Jennifer Borresen,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The third-year running back had a career-high 181 yards from scrimmage, catching four passes for a career-high 106 receiving yards and leading the Falcons with 75 rushing yards on 17 carries.—
Josh Kendall,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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Golf talk was top of mind as guests shared their photos from the tournament and made plans to hit the West Side driving course early the next morning, before catching a helicopter out to the final.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Four innings before the Jays finished Saturday’s 10-1 blowout win over the New York Yankees, snatching a series-opening victory in the American League Division Series, Gausman was relegated to spectator.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
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Finney triumphed at the end of that film, dispatching child-snatching serial killer the Grabber (Ethan Hawke) with help from the ghosts of his previous victims and one of Gwen’s psychic visions.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Metropolitan Police officers are also said to have raided Clarke’s home, seizing items including laptops and documents.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
26 Sep. 2025
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Governments worldwide are already seizing the opportunity to attract skilled workers to their countries.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Each verse is a heartfelt exploration of sorrow, capturing the complexity of human emotions in the face of separation.—
Tere Aguilera,
Billboard,
3 Oct. 2025
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The best part for her was capturing on video the exact moment the doors opened to reveal a firefighter standing above them, ready to help.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That led to millions more people getting coverage, some of whom paid little or nothing, and more plans being offered.—
Todd Spangler,
Freep.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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Now, its most iconic silhouettes from the archive are getting a new lease on life — just in time to the brand’s 120th anniversary.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grappling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grappling. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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