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
Push for self-reliance Despite the growth in sales volumes across several automakers, China’s EV market is still grappling with slowing demand, at least partially due to the imposition of a 5% purchase tax on new energy vehicles, after previously being exempted from the full 10% tax.
—
Matthew Chin,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
Achievement gaps between demographic groups persist, early literacy scores remain deeply concerning with many elementary students off grade level, and districts from Boston to the Berkshires are grappling with educator layoffs and shrinking student enrollment.
—State House News Service, Boston Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
The hotels that remain are grappling with soaring operating costs, inflation, tariffs, and an ongoing tourism slump.
—Vijay Dandapani, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2026
Trump is currently facing a low point in his second term, grappling with a major setback on tariffs, opposition to his immigration enforcement tactics and low approval ratings.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grappling
Matthew Chin,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
Achievement gaps between demographic groups persist, early literacy scores remain deeply concerning with many elementary students off grade level, and districts from Boston to the Berkshires are grappling with educator layoffs and shrinking student enrollment.
—State House News Service, Boston Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
The hotels that remain are grappling with soaring operating costs, inflation, tariffs, and an ongoing tourism slump.
—Vijay Dandapani, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2026
Trump is currently facing a low point in his second term, grappling with a major setback on tariffs, opposition to his immigration enforcement tactics and low approval ratings.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grappling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grappling
Verb
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And yet, for any translator who has spent real time wrestling with sentences rather than theories, there is no denying that compensation exists.—
Jan Steyn,
The Dial,
10 Mar. 2026
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The National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships began in 2020 as a tournament for NCAA programs, the same year the NCAA designated women’s wrestling an emerging sport.—
John Bohnenkamp,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Wembanyama had back-to-back dunks in the second quarter, including grabbing his own miss and throwing it down for what became a three-point play on a foul by Javonte Green.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
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Brigham is also charged with assaulting a man by grabbing and twisting his genitals.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Nearby, pigeons are fighting over what, horrifyingly, appears to be a chicken strip.—
Addie Citchens,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
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The ferocity of Iran’s attacks on America’s Gulf allies, and the regime’s determination to keep fighting, have already come as a nasty surprise to him.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The news came just one week into the blockbuster trial, catching numerous parties off guard, including the judge overseeing the case and even one of the government’s own lead prosecutors.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
10 Mar. 2026
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The trails are open each year from April 1 - 30, and while the blooms are beautiful throughout the month, there’s something truly magical about catching them at their peak.—
Abby Price,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Reviews Are In Reese’s Marshmallow is now available in stores nationwide, and fans of the brand have already been snatching up the treat to give it a taste for themselves—and share their reviews.—
Joseph Erbentraut,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Mar. 2026
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Lots of us can remember George Graham’s Arsenal snatching the league from Liverpool in 1989 and the epic, almost indescribable drama of Michael Thomas scoring the decisive goal with virtually the last kick of the season.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Ukraine accused Hungary’s pro-Russian government of taking the Ukrainians hostage and illegally seizing millions of dollars in cash.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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The same thing happened in Saturday’s 3-2 win at Newcastle, with O’Brien seizing on Dan Burn’s clearing header.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Video, including some posted on X, capturing the aftermath of several attacks as waves of strikes target the regime’s military, defenses and, increasingly, the oil facilities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Mar. 2026
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The historic center offers charming cafes and museums like the Marubi National Museum of Photography, which showcases an impressive collection capturing Albania's past.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This alternating and reciprocal motion is not just about getting you from point A to point B.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
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So a little less than half of the time in between the Bolt ending production and today was spent just getting everything set up in the factory and getting that line going again.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grappling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grappling. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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