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
Lynne Ramsay’s upcoming Die, My Love, starring Jennifer Lawrence as a new mother gripped by a postpartum depression that devolves into psychosis, looks set to expand that canon.
—
Emma Specter, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025
Even before the shutdown gripped Washington, there were mounting Democratic complaints that Trump would undermine any government funding deals struck by Congress with his use of pocket rescissions, aimed at canceling spending unilaterally at the end of a fiscal year.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 16 Oct. 2025
The group has grown from 35 member organizations to 75 in the four and a half years since statue-toppling gripped America.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Theresa is easy not to notice in everyday life, and Keaton tapped into that ordinariness, along with the wanderlust that gripped so many discontented antiheroes of the 1970s.
—Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025
The latter, in particular, has been gripped by the spread of the H3N2 virus in the country’s north.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
This has accelerated this week with his own former prime ministers coming out one after the other to criticize the president for his handling of the political deadlock that has gripped the National Assembly.
—Charlotte Reed, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
Lecornu’s resignation underscores the paralysis that has gripped France since those inconclusive 2024 elections left no party with an outright majority.
—Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
But local officials have suggested that many of his claims and social media posts appear to rely on images from 2020, when demonstrations and unrest gripped the city following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
Emma Specter, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025
Even before the shutdown gripped Washington, there were mounting Democratic complaints that Trump would undermine any government funding deals struck by Congress with his use of pocket rescissions, aimed at canceling spending unilaterally at the end of a fiscal year.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 16 Oct. 2025
The group has grown from 35 member organizations to 75 in the four and a half years since statue-toppling gripped America.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Theresa is easy not to notice in everyday life, and Keaton tapped into that ordinariness, along with the wanderlust that gripped so many discontented antiheroes of the 1970s.
—Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025
The latter, in particular, has been gripped by the spread of the H3N2 virus in the country’s north.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
This has accelerated this week with his own former prime ministers coming out one after the other to criticize the president for his handling of the political deadlock that has gripped the National Assembly.
—Charlotte Reed, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
Lecornu’s resignation underscores the paralysis that has gripped France since those inconclusive 2024 elections left no party with an outright majority.
—Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
But local officials have suggested that many of his claims and social media posts appear to rely on images from 2020, when demonstrations and unrest gripped the city following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gripped
Verb
-
To estimate 10 degrees in the sky, use the width of your clenched first held at arm's length.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
14 Oct. 2025
-
As a model named Carl, stuck in a relationship corrupted by microcelebrity and Instagram view counts, Dickinson ticks with exasperation and sarcastic logic, his jaw clenched, his eyes wide and staring.—
Carrie Battan,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The missing bust had fascinated me since my own visit to Morrison’s grave in December of 1988.—
David Kushner,
Rolling Stone,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Not only this, but fascinated by the sundials and time-telling monuments inside the course, Hovland reportedly skipped swing practice to soak in the heritage.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Since his death more than two hundred years ago, Christophe’s tragic story has interested a broad array of playwrights, artists, novelists, and filmmakers across the world.—
Marlene L. Daut
September 22,
Literary Hub,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This time was his time and with Gordon off the pitch, Woltemade grasped it and clung to it.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Appiah argues that the idea of free speech is best grasped negatively, by asking what happens when the ability of a government to impose restrictions isn’t so restricted.—
Lula Konner,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In less than a second, the ball was clutched in Grizzle’s outstretched arms before he was brought down to the turf, part blue and part orange.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Women clutched children in their arms, weeping uncontrollably.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Let yourself be enchanted by the possibilities, but also anchor them — sketch the dream, but also build the frame to hold it.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
12 Oct. 2025
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He and his mother, the late Eve Branson, were enchanted.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There, she becomes intrigued by Malaise (Bajrami), a charming young shopgirl for whom Angine is willing to defy the prohibition of kissing.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
17 Oct. 2025
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Boucher has always intrigued due to his length and ability to shoot from downtown.—
Stan Son,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
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 22 Oct. 2025.
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