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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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
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 13 Jan. 2026
The Hurricanes needed that to happen after the game nearly slipped out of their grasps.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2025
Rigid grippers used in existing aerial manipulators require precise positioning to achieve successful grasps and transmit large contact forces that may destabilize the drone.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Mar. 2021
Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
Until the governor’s office grasps the severity of the problem, and until the health insurers are tasked with stopping the fraud, Girand isn’t optimistic there’ll be much change.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 12 Jan. 2026
When the robot successfully grasps a door handle in simulation, that state is saved.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Dec. 2025
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
Noun
Through universal intelligent manipulation, the robot autonomously plans grasps, adjusts force in real time, and navigates obstacles using seamless hand–eye coordination.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 13 Jan. 2026
The Hurricanes needed that to happen after the game nearly slipped out of their grasps.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2025
Rigid grippers used in existing aerial manipulators require precise positioning to achieve successful grasps and transmit large contact forces that may destabilize the drone.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Mar. 2021
Verb
The nearly colorless imagery really grasps the soul of the moment and the chill of our wintry days.
—Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
Until the governor’s office grasps the severity of the problem, and until the health insurers are tasked with stopping the fraud, Girand isn’t optimistic there’ll be much change.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 12 Jan. 2026
When the robot successfully grasps a door handle in simulation, that state is saved.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Dec. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grasps
Noun
-
Richard and Moody tried their hands at Butler-style pullup jumpers, and Hield handled the ball a tad more than Kerr would have probably liked.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Using your hands, mix until combined (don’t be gentle; mixing well will help the meatballs hold their shape when formed).—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
With his car in the shop, Audrey drives Eli to work and school and the two grow closer as Audrey comes to grips with an abusive childhood and Eli wrestles with his shady past.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Meanwhile, the rubber grips on the bottom prevent any sliding around.—
Quincy Bulin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Gelb said the broad crime rate decreases have made some criminologists question historic understandings of what drives trends in violent crime and how to battle it.—
Claudia Lauer,
Fortune,
22 Jan. 2026
-
And as states started to abandon Common Core, school controversies began to focus less on standards and achievement than on competing understandings of America itself.—
Jonathan Zimmerman,
The Atlantic,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
London — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Britain’s Prince Andrew, has moved out of his longtime Windsor home and is now a resident of Norfolk, England, CNN understands.—
Max Foster,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
-
If topics feel heavy, suggest a pause and return with notes so feelings stay honored while plans keep moving toward real stability that everyone understands.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Keeping that hardshell closed is a pair of wide, beefy aluminum latches with a lower swing arm that clasps to a closure bar via a pair of hooks.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Women's skiing at the Olympics will be held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, where Vonn holds the record of 12 World Cup wins.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Women’s skiing at the Olympics will be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where Vonn holds the record of 12 World Cup wins.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Coakley makes sure that her troop knows how to make change and how to politely speak to customers, even the difficult ones.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The administration knows this, which is why ICE agents knock phones from people's hands, beat those who film them, and target documenters with arrest and violence.—
Binaifer Nowrojee,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In lieu of complicated controls and systems, these games seized on the high-energy gameplay of intense dogfighting moments, boiling it down into arcadey combat that was more accessible to the masses.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Then came write-downs of many of its iconic brands, like Kraft, Oscar Mayer, Maxwell House and Velveeta, in addition to a subpoena from the Securities and Exchange Commission related to its accounting policies and internal controls.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grasps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grasps. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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