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
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
Appiah argues that the idea of free speech is best grasped negatively, by asking what happens when the ability of a government to impose restrictions isn’t so restricted.
—Lula Konner, The New York Review of Books, 4 Oct. 2025
Fortunately, the peerless English gun-maker and safari outfitter Westley Richards seems to have grasped this predicament and come up with a solution.
—Air Mail, 4 Oct. 2025
Arms stretched wide and his eyes popping even wider, the ball grasped tightly in his left hand, Boise State fifth-year cornerback A’Marion McCoy soaked in the cheers.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 28 Sep. 2025
When conservative activists first tried to make noise about changing the culture of television, executives quickly grasped their agenda and its dangers.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2025
As a pro, his best play came last season as the Ducks grasped strings at the fringes of a playoff race.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 27 Sep. 2025
Strangers weren’t a concept that Jayce grasped very well, his family said.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 26 Sep. 2025
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
Appiah argues that the idea of free speech is best grasped negatively, by asking what happens when the ability of a government to impose restrictions isn’t so restricted.
—Lula Konner, The New York Review of Books, 4 Oct. 2025
Fortunately, the peerless English gun-maker and safari outfitter Westley Richards seems to have grasped this predicament and come up with a solution.
—Air Mail, 4 Oct. 2025
Arms stretched wide and his eyes popping even wider, the ball grasped tightly in his left hand, Boise State fifth-year cornerback A’Marion McCoy soaked in the cheers.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 28 Sep. 2025
When conservative activists first tried to make noise about changing the culture of television, executives quickly grasped their agenda and its dangers.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2025
As a pro, his best play came last season as the Ducks grasped strings at the fringes of a playoff race.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 27 Sep. 2025
Strangers weren’t a concept that Jayce grasped very well, his family said.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 26 Sep. 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 it was read, Dunn hugged his lawyers in the courtroom.—
Stephen Sorace , Louis Casiano , Jake Gibson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Kinloch offers advice, not concession to Sheffield After giving his speech, Kinloch shook hands, hugged and took photos with his supporters, who generally radiated smiles and continued dancing, despite his loss in the race.—
Dana Afana,
Freep.com,
5 Nov. 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
-
The president worked with Gifford Pinchot—the US Forest Service’s first leader—on a publicity campaign in this realm, and came to appoint a commission in 1903 that held public hearings and investigations the president knew would grab headlines.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Not the loss of titles, or the connections to Jeffrey Epstein, and of course, not how long the royal family knew about it without doing anything.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Hannah McGuire stepped up to a microphone outside City Hall with hands clasped together in front of her and took a deep breath.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The pair took a spin through the watery exhibits, and then Hanks clasped his hands together.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Canada was gripped by the World Series last month and early in November as the Blue Jays, the country’s only MLB team, came agonizingly close to upsetting the Dodgers juggernaut.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The raccoon, who had wrapped both paws around the cone and whose legs gripped the bottom of the cone, eventually slipped off and fell back into the water, just as DeLeo got close to pulling him to safety.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The 85-year-old Pelosi clung to her job in the House well past her time.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Maduro has ruled Venezuela with an iron fist since 2013 and has clung to power despite an apparently decisive loss in the 2024 presidential election.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 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 12 Nov. 2025.
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