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
Mass anti-government protests triggered by deteriorating economic conditions have gripped the country, presenting the Iranian regime with its biggest challenge in years.
—
Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
The detainees held inside one of Venezuela’s notorious prisons had not yet heard the news that had gripped their nation and much of the world for the past week.
—Samantha Schmidt, Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2026
As the decade came to a close, the region was gripped in a drought that reduced supplies of food and water, pushing Indigenous communities’ frustrations to a tipping point.
—Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
Venezuela is gripped by fear and uncertainty in the aftermath of the removal of longtime leader Nicolás Maduro, with many inside the country questioning whether his capture truly signals the end of the authoritarian system that has ruled for years.
—Ted Scouten, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
In a court case that gripped the nation, Karen Read was cleared of the murder charges relating to the death of her boyfriend John O’Keefe, a Boston police officer.
—Isabelle Friedman, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
From shocking acts of violence to courtroom reckonings that captivated the public, 2025 brought a series of crime stories that gripped the nation’s attention.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025
The tragedy has gripped Americans who grew up with Rob Reiner.
—Josh Peter, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
The shootings gripped residents of Rhode Island and Massachusetts as days passed without anyone in custody.
—Tomás Guerreiro, NBC news, 19 Dec. 2025
Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
The detainees held inside one of Venezuela’s notorious prisons had not yet heard the news that had gripped their nation and much of the world for the past week.
—Samantha Schmidt, Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2026
As the decade came to a close, the region was gripped in a drought that reduced supplies of food and water, pushing Indigenous communities’ frustrations to a tipping point.
—Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
Venezuela is gripped by fear and uncertainty in the aftermath of the removal of longtime leader Nicolás Maduro, with many inside the country questioning whether his capture truly signals the end of the authoritarian system that has ruled for years.
—Ted Scouten, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
In a court case that gripped the nation, Karen Read was cleared of the murder charges relating to the death of her boyfriend John O’Keefe, a Boston police officer.
—Isabelle Friedman, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
From shocking acts of violence to courtroom reckonings that captivated the public, 2025 brought a series of crime stories that gripped the nation’s attention.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025
The tragedy has gripped Americans who grew up with Rob Reiner.
—Josh Peter, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
The shootings gripped residents of Rhode Island and Massachusetts as days passed without anyone in custody.
—Tomás Guerreiro, NBC news, 19 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gripped
Verb
-
Don’t leave home without a rose clenched between your teeth.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
17 Jan. 2026
-
As Rathbun and other officers retreated, Webster clenched both fists, crouched into a linebacker’s stance, and charged into Rathbun, knocking him to the ground.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Details of the service were kept private, but the family's public show of solidarity in turning out to support Caroline is typical of the Kennedy dynasty, which has fascinated Americans for decades.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Bass, who as a young man played a year as a tailback for the Utah State Aggies, was fascinated by the program, and its coach, Anthony Barnes.—
Michael Schaub,
Oc Register,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
What interested me in photographing Chalmers wasn’t capturing the disembodied ideas.—
Dan Turello,
New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Tommaso di Lampedusa’s novel, which looks at the unification of Italy from the perspective of a 20th-century writer, had a modernity that interested me.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Multiple responders then grasped the canine by the neck and back to lift it onboard, during which the dog could be heard slightly whimpering.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Kirk grasped how the internet has changed America, but his death has demonstrated—and, disturbingly, may have resulted from—the fundamentally anarchic nature of those changes.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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To complete her outfit, Kylie clutched a White Birkin Faubourg House Alligator Bag, which is worth anywhere from $200K to upwards of $300K, according to Sotheby's.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Raynaud clutched his left knee while writhing in pain before limping off the floor with assistance from head athletic trainer Joel Noland.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But silver is now an even hotter trade than Nvidia, the high-flying artificial intelligence beneficiary that has enchanted Wall Street since late 2022.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Bob Rockwell grew up on a ranch in Colorado, enchanted by the Western landscape and cultures.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Russell notes that he was particularly intrigued by his role.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Jan. 2026
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Judy was intrigued, both by the suitcase and the man who gave it to her.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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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 31 Jan. 2026.
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