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
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the last 24 hours is that Weiss appears not to have totally grasped the firestorm her decision would provoke.
—
Max Tani, semafor.com, 23 Dec. 2025
Sympathetic business leaders have also grasped new opportunities to amplify illiberal narratives for global audiences.
—Nic Cheeseman, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Few investors had heard of the World Wide Web, let alone grasped its commercial potential.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 15 Dec. 2025
As grippers, two exoskeleton sections grasped delicate items like tomatoes as well as rigid objects like pens.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Dec. 2025
Margot Robbie becomes a doll grasped and pushed by a giant hand.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
For the outro, Solís and Karol grasped hands and did a sweet dance.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025
My teacher grasped my wrists, forcing me to pick it up.
—Erin Silvia, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
This time was his time and with Gordon off the pitch, Woltemade grasped it and clung to it.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Max Tani, semafor.com, 23 Dec. 2025
Sympathetic business leaders have also grasped new opportunities to amplify illiberal narratives for global audiences.
—Nic Cheeseman, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Few investors had heard of the World Wide Web, let alone grasped its commercial potential.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 15 Dec. 2025
As grippers, two exoskeleton sections grasped delicate items like tomatoes as well as rigid objects like pens.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Dec. 2025
Margot Robbie becomes a doll grasped and pushed by a giant hand.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
For the outro, Solís and Karol grasped hands and did a sweet dance.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025
My teacher grasped my wrists, forcing me to pick it up.
—Erin Silvia, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
This time was his time and with Gordon off the pitch, Woltemade grasped it and clung to it.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grasped
Verb
-
How gentle and precious to be understood.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
-
In handing down the sentence, Montenegro said Bonillo understood the scope of his misdeeds, abused his position of trust and used that position to enrich himself while undermining CBP’s main goal.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
After Beck’s winning TD an assistant coach on the sideline hugged Cristobal from behind but the head coach broke free and wanted none if that -- because Ole Miss and gifted QB Trinidad Chambliss had the ball left without about a half-minute left.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
After taking the 27-24 lead, an assistant went up to the head coach and hugged him from behind while smiling from ear to ear.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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
-
Though their divorce was acrimonious, and the two were later involved in various legal proceedings, the source said that Clarkson knew the importance of her children’s relationship with their father.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Authorities said the two teenagers knew each other, but did not provide further details on their relationship.—
Katie Houlis,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Smith sits poised, contemplative, his hands clasped together.—
Sam Kestenbaum,
Vulture,
2 Jan. 2026
-
The 41-year-old Monterey Park resident clasped a cup of hot chocolate.—
Itzel Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Venezuela is gripped by fear and uncertainty in the aftermath of the removal of longtime leader Nicolás Maduro, with many inside the country questioning whether his capture truly signals the end of the authoritarian system that has ruled for years.—
Ted Scouten,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
-
In a court case that gripped the nation, Karen Read was cleared of the murder charges relating to the death of her boyfriend John O’Keefe, a Boston police officer.—
Isabelle Friedman,
Boston Herald,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
But where Smith believed unrealistically in talismanic lists and self-help books to redirect his life, Capote clung fiercely to his own brilliance and hard work.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The night was warm and muggy over New Castle Air Force Base in Delaware, the kind of heat that clung to the metal skins of the alert fighter jets lined along the runway.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Döpfner nearly bought the FT in 2015, before losing it to Nikkei, and took a controlling stake in Business Insider — at the top of the new media market — for $343 million.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
With the win, Southern Miss (7-2, 5-0) took sole possession of first place in the Sun Belt Conference West Division standings.—
Michael Harley,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grasped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grasped. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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