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
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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
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Recent Examples of grasp
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 21 Jan. 2026
With his deep roots in music and an instinctive grasp of culture, Pharrell Williams has often leaned toward a streetwear-forward sensibility, but this collection struck a careful balance.
—Mecca Pryor, Essence, 21 Jan. 2026
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
Let’s go back to that opening section of the Enchiridion and unpack it a bit to truly grasp Epictetus’s meaning.
—Massimo Pigliucci, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grasp
Noun
According to the team, the process began by generating a library of collision-free, kinematically feasible grasp poses, since grasping requirements directly influence finger placement and crawling performance.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 21 Jan. 2026
With his deep roots in music and an instinctive grasp of culture, Pharrell Williams has often leaned toward a streetwear-forward sensibility, but this collection struck a careful balance.
—Mecca Pryor, Essence, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
In robotics, a policy is the decision-making layer that translates observations, such as camera images and sensor data, into physical actions like joint movements or grasping motions.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
Let’s go back to that opening section of the Enchiridion and unpack it a bit to truly grasp Epictetus’s meaning.
—Massimo Pigliucci, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grasp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grasp
Noun
-
Extreme heat fuels out of control bushfires Bushfires, fueled by the soaring temperatures, have menaced towns in the state of Victoria, prompting evacuations as volunteer firefighters attempted to douse flames around homes.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The Caribbean island once relied heavily on oil shipments from Venezuela, but that supply was cut off when the United States asserted control over the South American nation this month.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Art requires distance, and Tanner is so genuinely in the grip of intense family emotion that this father and son sometimes seem more real than theatrically compelling.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
But if Rubio is serious about breaking China's grip on critical minerals, his summit should devote equal attention to building up the secondary market for recycled materials.—
Kristen Edgreen Kaufman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The family appreciates the support and understanding of the community during this difficult time.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Each shot is composed with intention and elegance, and editor George Cragg demonstrates a keen understanding of which moments merit long, unbroken takes and when cuts are necessary.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Used by more than just psychiatrists, the DSM is considered the very foundation of how mental health issues are understood.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images MONTREAL — Cole Caufield arrived for his on-air interview between the second and third periods Tuesday night understanding the exact situation in which his Montreal Canadiens found themselves.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Around her, dozens of community members lingered along the street with coffee handed out by volunteers, hugging old friends, calling out familiar names and answering a steady chorus of car horns with cheers and applause as students made their way toward campus, backpacks slung over their shoulders.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
28 Jan. 2026
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The girls stayed with their grandparents in the smallest of ten bahay kubo, traditional bamboo-stilt homes, that hugged a bend of the San Juan and were overgrown with mango and jam fruit trees.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Goodarzi is being held without bail at the Central Detention Center.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The 31-year-old would like a round with McTominay at the Marco Simone course in Rome, where the 2023 Ryder Cup was held.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
About 80 warming centers were opened across the state, known as one of the nation's poorest.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In other words, getting hit by the single most energetic particle presently known in all the Universe would have no noticeable effect on you at all.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The American Chamber of Commerce in China hosted an appreciation dinner on Thursday evening in Beijing while Starmer was visiting, which included representatives from the Chinese side.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
-
There seemed to be a shift in tone among some members, who voiced appreciation for collaboration and the progress made toward a solution.—
Chierstin Roth,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grasp. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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