1
as in control
the ability to direct the course of something
The team got out to a big lead and rightly assumed that victory was within their grasp.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grip
the act or manner of holding
during the roller coaster ride, my date clutched my arm with a deathlike grasp
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in understanding
the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something
I think I finally have a grasp of Spanish grammar
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to understand
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to hug
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 to hold
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 to know
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of grasp
Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 17 June 2025
Would Haliburton be sidelined if this was January, in the dog days of a regular season grind, instead of June when a championship is within grasp?
—Shane Young, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
As the two families try to grasp what happened 16 years ago, police are called and complications — with violence, threats, mean girls and a disappearance — ensue.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for grasp
Noun
To negotiate when our strategic objective is within our grasp risks failing to achieve it.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 17 June 2025
Would Haliburton be sidelined if this was January, in the dog days of a regular season grind, instead of June when a championship is within grasp?
—Shane Young, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Verb
The community was still struggling to grasp the eight boater deaths.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
As the two families try to grasp what happened 16 years ago, police are called and complications — with violence, threats, mean girls and a disappearance — ensue.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for grasp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grasp
Noun
-
Because many of the scenes are shot through windows or doorways, the camera can seem sympathetic to Agnes’s struggle to regain control.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
29 June 2025
-
Ranged across the top of the SoundLink Plus there is a strip of soft-touch controls for turning the speaker on and off, initiating Bluetooth pairing, syncing with other Bose speakers, as well as playing and pausing music, skipping tracks and adjusting volume levels.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Noun
-
Hundreds of Iranians have been detained on political and security charges as the government works to retain its grip on power.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
-
Safely reducing the jail population will also help staff get a grip on violence and better deliver treatment and rehabilitation.—
Jonathan Lippman,
New York Daily News,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
Her studies led her to psychotherapy for healing, like EMDR, and a better understanding of how the nervous system operates.—
Renée Onque,
CNBC,
25 June 2025
-
The timing of that cease-fire was the source of some confusion, because there had been no formal agreement between Iran and Israel, just a general understanding.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
If not, the Kings might come to understand why Kerr couldn’t always trust Kuminga in key situations.—
Jason Anderson
July 5,
Sacbee.com,
5 July 2025
-
To better understand the risks and inform public debate, the French food safety agency ANSES ran multiple studies to measure microplastic levels in everyday foods, especially seafood and beverages.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
5 July 2025
Verb
-
Guardiola has always traditionally asked for his two wingers to provide the width for the team but that started to change at times last season, with the full-backs hugging the touchline.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
30 June 2025
-
Aaron Paul and pal, Chef Michael Mina, hug it out at the one-year anniversary of Bourbon Steak in New York.—
Grace Harrington,
People.com,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
The Mariners hold a 5 1/2-game game over the Royals in the AL Wild Card standings.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
1 July 2025
-
Republicans, who hold a 53-47 majority, face united Democratic opposition − and the defection of at least two of their own members.—
Olivia Munson,
USA Today,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
The Trump administration said the strikes destroyed Iran's nuclear infrastructure, but the full extent of the damage is not known.—
Sonam Sheth
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
-
The parliamentarian determined that a provision to bar immigrants who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents from receiving food assistance benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, should also be removed.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
24 June 2025
Noun
-
That’s because stock is only taxed when it’s sold, and not on its appreciation in value; activists like the protesters in Venice this week want that to change.—
Phoebe Liu,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
-
Montano expressed appreciation for $5 million worth of federal grants that will be used to improve local intersections and school zones.—
Stephanie Lam,
Mercury News,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grasp. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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