gripping 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of grippingnext
as in interesting
holding the attention or provoking interest I found the exhibit on the Holocaust intensely gripping and quite moving

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

gripping

2 of 2

verb

present participle of grip
1
as in clenching
to have or keep in one's hands gripped the handlebars tightly and raced down the hill

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fascinating
to hold the attention of as if by a spell that true crime story gripped me as much as any whodunit

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3
as in intriguing
to hold the attention of that movie will grip any true sports car fan

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in grasping
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gripping
Adjective
This visually stunning documentary series captures the gripping cat-and-mouse game between investigators and perpetrators from up close. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026 Viewers praised the series for its gripping action sequences, inventive camerawork and compelling performances. — Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Verb
Another survivor, Ram Chandra, described gripping onto rungs of the ceiling to make his way out of the tunnel as water, concrete and debris swirled around him. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026 The case has become a national cultural fixation and a social media spectacle, gripping and dividing spectators well beyond the Massachusetts courtroom where the 36-year-old mother is charged with killing her three young children. — Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gripping
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gripping
  1. interesting
  2. clenching
  3. fascinating
  4. intriguing
  5. grasping
  6. engaging
  7. clutching
  8. enchanting
Adjective
  • This is why silicon photonics is becoming particularly interesting.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Marshall had an interesting 3-yard run in the second quarter.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of interesting
Verb
  • Years ago, after Jake died, my instinct as a medical student was anger — clenching my teeth and jabbing a pen into my notepad, making a line of inky holes along the margin.
    — Caroline Cherston, STAT, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Janet held the phone away from her ear, clenching her teeth against Maggie’s booming voice.
    — Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
Definition of clenching
Verb
  • Wilentz, author of the 2010 book Dylan in America, wrote Volume 18‘s detailed, often fascinating 125-page liner notes that provides historical context for the expansive eight-CD set.
    — Glenn Peoples, Billboard, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Once on the ground visitors can enjoy Greenland’s rugged coastal landscapes, fascinating indigenous Inuit culture, and the opportunity to experience the country at its primordial best.
    — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2025
Definition of fascinating
Verb
  • The female forward is in front of the camera, behind the camera, really getting women, intriguing them to come to the service and watch.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The first four episodes made available for review likewise have tiny sparks of interest, from some witty dialogue to genuine plot momentum to intriguing new characters popping up.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 21 June 2026
Definition of intriguing
Verb
  • Garcia lends the whole song theater-kid interpretation, essentially acting out the lyrics in pantomime, grasping out in front of her, clutching her face.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Remove the stems from the kale by grasping the leafy part and pulling off the stem.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of grasping
Adjective
  • This Reading By 9 Guide is designed to help both teachers and parents explain water conservation to kids in a simple, engaging, and meaningful way.
    — Sarah Viramontes, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Every press, movement, and mechanical response is designed to create a more engaging interaction between the user and the object.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of engaging
Verb
  • As the deli’s surveillance video rolled, his client went from calmly standing at the counter with a bottle of Gatorade to staggering to the floor, clutching his leg and tearing at his pants.
    — Alison J. Stein, HubSpot, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In a satiric short video, Rabid Dogs, 2002, for example, white-collar workers dress upas rapacious canines, clutching Burberry bags in their mouths and traversing cubicles on all fours.
    — Pablo Larios, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of clutching
Verb
  • Practical Magic 2 has Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman enchanting a new generation of fans, but not everyone from the original cast returned for the sequel.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The rolling meadows, forests, and enchanting Monet gardens form an artistic canvas that complements the hotel’s interiors.
    — Veronica M. Stoddart, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
Definition of enchanting

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Cite this Entry

“Gripping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gripping. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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