1
as in clenched
to have or keep in one's hands
gripped the handlebars tightly and raced down the hill
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fascinated
to hold the attention of as if by a spell
that true crime story gripped me as much as any whodunit
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in interested
to hold the attention of
that movie will grip any true sports car fan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in grasped
to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms
the baby gripped my fingers and wouldn't let go
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gripped
While his parents were able to keep their reactions close to the vest, Prince George was clearly gripped by what was happening on the court during Wimbledon 2022.
—
Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
The male wolf, named Neukgu, burrowed out of his enclosure at the O-World zoo in Daejeon on April 8, prompting a search that gripped the nation and raised fears about his safety.
—ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
Across Lebanon, towns and cities once thought to be safe, including the capital, have been gripped by an unpredictable wave of deadly attacks by the Israeli military.
—Nada Bashir, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
But in 1977, this man was gripped by its revelations.
—Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
But a sense of growing momentum gripped Congress on Tuesday, as Democrats grappled with Swalwell’s resignation and Republicans called for other lawmakers to face scrutiny.
—Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Investors were suddenly gripped with the fear that AI would annihilate software companies of every kind.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
On the witness stand, Shandelle thrust her head back, demonstrating how Braddy’s hands gripped her throat.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
That is no surprise in a society gripped by an extortion epidemic, with a record homicide rate, and where the number of Peruvians suffering food insecurity doubled from 25% before the pandemic to 51% now according to the World Food Programme.
—Simeon Tegel, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026
Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
The male wolf, named Neukgu, burrowed out of his enclosure at the O-World zoo in Daejeon on April 8, prompting a search that gripped the nation and raised fears about his safety.
—ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
Across Lebanon, towns and cities once thought to be safe, including the capital, have been gripped by an unpredictable wave of deadly attacks by the Israeli military.
—Nada Bashir, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
But in 1977, this man was gripped by its revelations.
—Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
But a sense of growing momentum gripped Congress on Tuesday, as Democrats grappled with Swalwell’s resignation and Republicans called for other lawmakers to face scrutiny.
—Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Investors were suddenly gripped with the fear that AI would annihilate software companies of every kind.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
On the witness stand, Shandelle thrust her head back, demonstrating how Braddy’s hands gripped her throat.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
That is no surprise in a society gripped by an extortion epidemic, with a record homicide rate, and where the number of Peruvians suffering food insecurity doubled from 25% before the pandemic to 51% now according to the World Food Programme.
—Simeon Tegel, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gripped
Verb
-
May watched, jaw clenched, arms crossed, eyes glassy.—
Justin Williams,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Among many Niger Deltans, there’s a mixture of ignorance, nonchalance, and clenched resignation around the industry’s environmental dangers, which take a back seat as folks get on with the business of everyday survival.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the book, Oppenheimer noted a family legend that Kennedy was fascinated by bugs as an infant; by the age of nine, the book said, Kennedy had a pet collection that included raccoons, rats, a horse, a calf, lizards, chickens, and snakes.—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The price of rotisserie and roast chicken has long fascinated New Yorkers.—
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That’s what interested us as well.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
-
These stories are not only fun to read, but also provide valuable information about ideas that interested early Christians.—
Christy Cobb,
The Conversation,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Atheist philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche grasped the radical implications of this view.—
James O. Cunningham,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
-
When Chinese alchemists invented gunpowder in the ninth century, no one grasped the full range of its potential uses.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Flowers surrounded the baby girl's tiny casket inside the Lawrence Woodward Funeral Home in Crown Heights, as family members clutched each other and said their final goodbyes.—
Naveen Dhaliwal,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Elliot Cadeau came rushing over to his mom after the game, a fistful of maize-and-blue confetti clutched tight in his hand.—
Justin Williams,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Everyone was enchanted by the idea of Nicole as a pro wrestler.—
Seija Rankin,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Irvi was enchanted and unnerved by Oaxaca’s clear blue skies, unmarred by skyscrapers.—
Caitlin Dickerson,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Not out of desperation — although a desire for a steady income is certainly a motivator — but because she’s genuinely intrigued by this new possible job.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
15 Apr. 2026
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What intrigued Cronin most was the chance to reinvent a monster that has often been treated as more icon than character.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gripped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gripped. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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