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grasp

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of grasp

1 the ability to direct the course of something
  • For a time it looked like most of Europe would be within Hitler's grasp.
Synonyms of grasp

control, hand(s)
Words Related to grasp

clutch, grip, hold, mastery

arm, command, dominion, helm, sway

authority, domination, jurisdiction, might, power

administration, direction, governance, government, guidance, management, operation, oversight, regulation, running, superintendence, supervision
Near Antonyms of grasp

helplessness, weakness

impotence, impotency, powerlessness
2 the act or manner of holding
  • During the roller coaster ride, I held the safety bar with a viselike grasp.
Synonyms of grasp

clasp, clench, grapple, grip, handgrip, handhold, hold
Words Related to grasp

anchorage, leverage, purchase

grab, seizure

foothold, footing, toehold

clinch, embrace, hug
Near Antonyms of grasp

release, relinquishment
3 the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something
  • I think I finally have a grasp of Spanish grammar.
Synonyms of grasp

appreciation, apprehension, comprehension, grip, hold, perception, percipience, understanding
Words Related to grasp

absorption, assimilation, digestion, uptake

conception, visualization

awareness, consciousness, enlightenment, realization
Near Antonyms of grasp

misapprehension, miscomprehension, misinterpretation, misperception, misunderstanding
Antonyms of grasp

incomprehension, noncomprehension

grasp

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of grasp

1 to have a practical understanding of
  • He just doesn't grasp how important it is that he call when he'll be late.
Synonyms of grasp

comprehend, know, understand
Words Related to grasp

appreciate, apprehend, cognize, fathom, follow, perceive

have, possess

catch on (to), pick up
Near Antonyms of grasp

misapprehend, misconceive, misinterpret, misknow, misperceive, misunderstand
2 to put one's arms around and press tightly
  • The departing soldier grasped his children a little closer than usual.
Synonyms of grasp

bear-hug, clasp, crush, embrace, enclasp, enfold, hug, strain
Words Related to grasp

clamp, cling, cradle, grab, grip, hold

bosom, embosom, encircle, entwine, envelop, enwind

fold, lock, twine, wrap

cuddle, fondle, nestle, nuzzle, pat, pet, snuggle, stroke
3 to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms
  • The attendant grasped my arm and steered me towards the door.
Synonyms of grasp

clasp, grip, hold, take
Words Related to grasp

clench, cling (to), clutch, hold on (to)

catch, nab, seize, snatch
Phrases Synonymous with grasp

hang on to, lay hold of
Near Antonyms of grasp

discharge, drop, free, liberate, release

deliver, entrust (also intrust), give, hand, hand over, pass, relinquish, transfer, transmit, turn over, unhand
4 to have a clear idea of
  • The emergency operator finally grasped what he was trying to tell her.
Synonyms of grasp

appreciate, apprehend, assimilate, behold, catch, catch on (to), cognize, compass, comprehend, conceive, cotton (to or on to), decipher, decode, dig, discern, get, intuit, know, make, make out, perceive, recognize, register, savvy, see, seize, sense, tumble (to), twig, understand
Words Related to grasp

absorb, digest, take in

realize

fathom, penetrate, pierce
Phrases Synonymous with grasp

pick up on
Near Antonyms of grasp

misapprehend, misconceive, misconstrue, misinterpret, misperceive, misread, mistake, misunderstand
Antonyms of grasp

miss

Synonym Discussion of grasp

take, seize, grasp, clutch, snatch, grab mean to get hold of by or as if by catching up with the hand. take is a general term applicable to any manner of getting something into one's possession or control.
    • take some salad from the bowl
seize implies a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of something tangible or an apprehending of something fleeting or elusive when intangible.
    • seized the suspect
grasp stresses a laying hold so as to have firmly in possession.
    • grasp the handle and pull
clutch suggests avidity or anxiety in seizing or grasping and may imply less success in holding.
    • clutching her purse
snatch suggests more suddenness or quickness but less force than seize.
    • snatched a doughnut and ran
grab implies more roughness or rudeness than snatch.
    • grabbed roughly by the arm

Learn More about grasp

  1. See words that rhyme with grasp Dictionary: Definition of grasp Spanish Central: Translation of grasp Nglish: Translation of grasp for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of grasp for Arabic speakers

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