1
as in hands
the ability to direct the course of something
for a time it looked like most of Europe would be within Hitler's grasp
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grips
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 understandings
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 understands
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 clasps
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 holds
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 knows
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 grasps
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2025
Halakhic rulings on divorce, medical emergencies, or conversion involve nuance that no present-day model grasps.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025
Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Valeria finally grasps the extent of Manu’s deception after finding Bea dead in her hotel room.
—Emily Blackwood, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
In each of these use cases, AI that sorts through appropriate, clean datasets—and grasps the full context of the worker’s role, functions and intentions—is the differentiator in deriving quantifiable value.
—Dan Adika, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Del Mazo grasps the importance of rhythm for the page turn, and her pacing is spot-on.
—Barney Saltzberg, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
For sustained success and a secure future in college football’s next edition, nothing is more important than a president who grasps the power of athletics to enhance campus life.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025
This might seem obvious, but apparently, not everyone grasps the concept.
—Laura Bradley, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2025
The makeup designs on the main and guest cast characterize them almost instantaneously in ways the viewer grasps but doesn’t need to consciously think about.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 5 Feb. 2025
And while the boxing is kinetically directed, Morrison grasps that the movie’s fiercest stands are taken outside the ring, when Claressa — faced with tough choices about her future — asserts herself to the people who need to hear it.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2024
Noun
The Hurricanes needed that to happen after the game nearly slipped out of their grasps.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2025
Halakhic rulings on divorce, medical emergencies, or conversion involve nuance that no present-day model grasps.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
The photo shows Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce on one knee as Swift grasps his face.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Valeria finally grasps the extent of Manu’s deception after finding Bea dead in her hotel room.
—Emily Blackwood, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
In each of these use cases, AI that sorts through appropriate, clean datasets—and grasps the full context of the worker’s role, functions and intentions—is the differentiator in deriving quantifiable value.
—Dan Adika, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Del Mazo grasps the importance of rhythm for the page turn, and her pacing is spot-on.
—Barney Saltzberg, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
For sustained success and a secure future in college football’s next edition, nothing is more important than a president who grasps the power of athletics to enhance campus life.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025
This might seem obvious, but apparently, not everyone grasps the concept.
—Laura Bradley, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2025
The makeup designs on the main and guest cast characterize them almost instantaneously in ways the viewer grasps but doesn’t need to consciously think about.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 5 Feb. 2025
And while the boxing is kinetically directed, Morrison grasps that the movie’s fiercest stands are taken outside the ring, when Claressa — faced with tough choices about her future — asserts herself to the people who need to hear it.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grasps
Noun
-
Its approach suggests that in the years since Ferrante first made her way into American readers’ hands, the status of feminist writing has seen a true shift.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
-
What Happens Next There will likely be long delays before SNAP benefits actually make it into the hands of beneficiaries again.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Needless to say, Prince William's visit to Brazil offers him an opportunity to attempt a reset for the British monarchy, which for weeks now has been in the grips of a crisis about Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, and his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Heated grips, cruise control, a quickshifter, knuckle protectors, and a center stand all come as stock.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Social scientists can develop accurate understandings of how Americans really feel about all sorts of issues.—
Adam Bai,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
-
And the United States has been increasingly one-sided in backing Taiwan, chipping away at previous understandings reached with Beijing on cross-strait issues.—
STEPHEN WERTHEIM,
Foreign Affairs,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Even if no one understands the movie reference, this is still a fun look for Halloween night.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Landau understands and supports not just Bruce’s vision but Bruce himself, which is how Nebraska, so bleak and bewitching, eventually emerges into the world.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There’s a Redwall vibe to the third installment, as fan-favorite rattkin Fern gets carried away on an impromptu adventure involving a chaos-goblin who holds a bounty tempting enough for all the ne’er-do-wells to try and collect on.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Ahead of the launch of season three of Alice in Borderland in September, THR spoke to Sato in Tokyo about working on the project for so many years, the global success of the show, and what the future holds.—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Bo knows Before Game 6, Bichette strayed from a script every player reads in their platform year.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Everyone knows about LeBron James, Steph Curry and those top-level superstars.—
Joe Kozlowski,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Trump’s meeting with Xi ended in a trade agreement that called for the US to lower tariffs on China by 10%, bringing the effective rate on Chinese exports down to 47%; and for China to delay some export controls on rare earths and resume purchases of American soybeans.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The communication app should provide the security and administrative controls needed to manage users and protect company data.—
Rebecca Lazar,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But contrary to often dominant perceptions, many were women and nonbinary.—
Kate Sosin,
Them.,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Meanwhile, liberals had lower purchase intentions for Tesla vehicles than for other EVs, with lower purchase intentions associated with negative perceptions of the Tesla CEO.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grasps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grasps. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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