as in greedy
having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions
a grasping person who would rather buy a car he didn't need than give a dime to charity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in understanding
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 clasping
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 holding
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 knowing
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 grasping
Natan Linder, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The imperial Presidency: Designs on Greenland, promises to take back the Panama Canal, threats of tariffs on countries ranging from Colombia to Taiwan—how did a President who once pledged isolationism become so grasping?
—Ian Crouch, The New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2025
Multiplied across numerous markets in every state, the LIHTC fuels more and more grasping for cash instead of reductions to make housing easier to create.
—Roger Valdez, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Unlike most other camp movies, this one isn’t about preserving and revering childhood, but the sloppy, grasping, wonderful transition to adulthood.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 May 2024
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
There are also cameras in each hand's palm to help with grasping tasks and the processor can handle large visual data flows in complex real-world surroundings.
—David Szondy
october 09, New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2025
The decision led to his being wiped during summer league, a good example of a player having his heart in the right place without fully grasping the consequences.
—Dan Woike, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Deputy Thomas Zajac, first on the scene, found Heskett kneeling in the grass near the park’s Old Mill Trail, grasping a pocketknife protruding from his abdomen.
—Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
The old reservoir flicked at the edge of my consciousness—like hearing your parents fighting but not grasping the stakes.
—Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
New research published Thursday shows that octopuses have the ability to use any of their eight limbs to perform tasks like reaching, tiptoeing or grasping.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 14 Sep. 2025
What lies beneath the surface is hardly a starting point for grasping the breadth and enduring impact of each work.
—Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
From high-stakes official visits to personal trips, understanding where leaders go, and why, is crucial to grasping the evolving landscape of international diplomacy.
—Collin J. Meisel, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Engineers still struggle to replicate a grasping human hand, or the hand-eye coordination of a human brain.
—Natan Linder, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The imperial Presidency: Designs on Greenland, promises to take back the Panama Canal, threats of tariffs on countries ranging from Colombia to Taiwan—how did a President who once pledged isolationism become so grasping?
—Ian Crouch, The New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2025
Multiplied across numerous markets in every state, the LIHTC fuels more and more grasping for cash instead of reductions to make housing easier to create.
—Roger Valdez, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Unlike most other camp movies, this one isn’t about preserving and revering childhood, but the sloppy, grasping, wonderful transition to adulthood.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 May 2024
Verb
Furthermore, these grasping abilities would have also helped climb.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
There are also cameras in each hand's palm to help with grasping tasks and the processor can handle large visual data flows in complex real-world surroundings.
—David Szondy
october 09, New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2025
The decision led to his being wiped during summer league, a good example of a player having his heart in the right place without fully grasping the consequences.
—Dan Woike, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Deputy Thomas Zajac, first on the scene, found Heskett kneeling in the grass near the park’s Old Mill Trail, grasping a pocketknife protruding from his abdomen.
—Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
The old reservoir flicked at the edge of my consciousness—like hearing your parents fighting but not grasping the stakes.
—Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
New research published Thursday shows that octopuses have the ability to use any of their eight limbs to perform tasks like reaching, tiptoeing or grasping.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 14 Sep. 2025
What lies beneath the surface is hardly a starting point for grasping the breadth and enduring impact of each work.
—Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
From high-stakes official visits to personal trips, understanding where leaders go, and why, is crucial to grasping the evolving landscape of international diplomacy.
—Collin J. Meisel, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grasping
Adjective
-
Polaha plays Dick Hall, the president of Meridian Mortgage who is taken hostage by Tony Kiritsis (Ribisi), who publicly accuses him on being a greedy and cutthroat monster.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Left-wing antisemitism, which cast Jews as greedy capitalists, existed as well, especially in France, but Jew-baiting remained primarily a right-wing pursuit, the work of illiberal nativists who saw a tiny minority as polluting the purity of their racial or religious communities.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For executives rallying employees around strategy or transformation, understanding these perceptions is critical.—
Jason Del Rey,
Fortune,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The findings mark a crucial advance in understanding how human life begins, and how it might be repaired.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Bend your elbow and reach for your right hand, clasping hands together in Cow Face arms.—
Riya Davda,
Outside,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Next page, clasping hands with Schweitzer in her satin, white wedding dress with a rose bouquet.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
One of his innovations in the new space is Fresh Out of the Box, a shelf holding books that are newly unboxed without anyone knowing the contents.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
20 Oct. 2025
-
In a struggle that eventually leads to Jayson holding Maeve hostage outside, Grasso musters strength and shoots Jayson in the head, in a small act of vengeance for Lizzie.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Minnesota went into the bye week knowing how pressing this concern was.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
17 Oct. 2025
-
There’s no question that the younger generation has brought their own approach to office life—prioritizing mental health, flexible scheduling, and work-life balance—and are even getting fired for not knowing how to act workplace-appropriate.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Curry also remembered the future president being very eager for his then-girlfriend, Marla Maples, to be introduced to the film's director, Chris Columbus.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Showgirl was introduced as an album that gives fans a look behind the Eras Tour curtain, so attendees of that tour were eager to not just relive the magic but learn more about Taylor’s thought processes during such a whirlwind time of her career.—
Eric Renner Brown,
Billboard,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After Namakura finished reading it, Styles bowed to the fans and put the mic down in the ring before hugging Nakamura.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Encourage job hugging for the right reasons.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
It’s measured by gripping a handheld dynamometer.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The satire on higher education is rich, yet the larger themes about one’s purpose and ideas are gripping.—
AudioFile Magazine
September 30,
Literary Hub,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grasping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grasping. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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