1
as in understood
to have a practical understanding of
he just doesn't grasp how important it is that he call when he'll be late
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hugged
to put one's arms around and press tightly
the departing soldier grasped his children a little closer than usual
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in held
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in knew
to have a clear idea of
the emergency operator finally grasped what he was trying to tell her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grasped
This thoughtful composition from Yang Bo was taken in the sky over Nanjing, China during totality, creating the illusion that the blood moon is being grasped in the claw of a vast stone dragon.
—
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The robot must determine where the object can be safely grasped, whether surfaces will slip or break under pressure, and how weight is distributed.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
Supporters remember the painful defeats grasped from the jaws of victory more than easy wins.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
It can then be grasped like a screwdriver, and is held in that form by integrated magnets.
—New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2025
Trump seems to have grasped this reality.
—Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 17 Aug. 2025
While working on these jobs, he was exposed to other trades on the site and grasped that building a custom home is like putting a puzzle together with a hundred people.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025
Blake Street, meanwhile, immediately grasped the a-peel.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 Aug. 2025
What Einstein’s crew hadn’t fully grasped was that the quantum state does not have to live in one place, in one object.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 Aug. 2025
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The robot must determine where the object can be safely grasped, whether surfaces will slip or break under pressure, and how weight is distributed.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
Supporters remember the painful defeats grasped from the jaws of victory more than easy wins.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
It can then be grasped like a screwdriver, and is held in that form by integrated magnets.
—New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2025
Trump seems to have grasped this reality.
—Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 17 Aug. 2025
While working on these jobs, he was exposed to other trades on the site and grasped that building a custom home is like putting a puzzle together with a hundred people.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025
Blake Street, meanwhile, immediately grasped the a-peel.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 Aug. 2025
What Einstein’s crew hadn’t fully grasped was that the quantum state does not have to live in one place, in one object.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grasped
Verb
-
Now in production, the indie feature stars Dern as steadfast patriarch Gramps, whose daughter Shay (Thompson) is a single mother navigating the ADHD diagnosis of one of her identical twin sons, who shares his medication with his brother in attempt to be understood, sparking an unforgettable summer.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Christian Siriano has always understood the art of drama.—
Essence,
Essence,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Gospel music played on speakers, family members served chicken soup, strangers hugged each other, friends left carrying several plates stuffed with leftover food.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
-
But when Joe gets pulled away by his old search-and-rescue squad mates, Slightly has to improvise and take advantage of the chaos in the lab caused by the eyeball, locking poor Arthur — one of the few adults on the island putting the Lost Boys’ safety above all else — inside to get his face hugged.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Who knew the antidote for my incurable pixie cut envy would be a 13-second video of Kate Middleton?—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Prine’s health issues of the previous couple of decades were no secret—the throat cancer, the operation for lung cancer, and God knew what else.—
Tom Piazza
September 12,
Literary Hub,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At the end, before Fallon reappeared, all pep and cheer, Forge clasped his hands together and closed his eyes, as if locked in prayer.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
18 Aug. 2025
-
There were only two worshippers, one in the water, hands clasped in prayer, and the other seated on the bottommost step, looking intently toward the river or maybe at the other bather.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
As a lead disappeared, a normally calm and collected Stafford gripped his blue and gold helmet and spiked it into the turf at Nissan Stadium.—
Nate Atkins,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
-
International headlines often paint Haiti as a nation gripped by crisis — from political unrest and economic hardship to uncertainty about the future and unruly crime.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Murdochs and Redstones are far from the only families that clung tenaciously to control of their media empires for as long as possible.—
Howard Homonoff,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
In addition to the mouse study, the researchers also confirmed that the protein quickly clung to carbon monoxide in human blood in test tubes.—
Sara Novak,
Scientific American,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This just took so much out of me.—
Steve Baltin,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
So that trade talks could proceed, America lowered its tariffs against China to a still-high 30%, while China took its rate to 10%.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grasped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grasped. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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