as in interesting
holding the attention or provoking interest
I found the exhibit on the Holocaust intensely gripping and quite moving
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in clenching
to have or keep in one's hands
gripped the handlebars tightly and raced down the hill
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in intriguing
to hold the attention of
that movie will grip any true sports car fan
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Festivals of flamenco song are popular in the summers of Andalucia, Spain, but in the United States, this festival is one of a kind, presenting a unique opportunity for South Florida audiences to experience this gripping, traditional music with strong Moorish, Gypsy, and Jewish influences.
—Emily Cardenas, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Preston Fore, Fortune, 1 Sep. 2025
Tense international spy thrillers, cozy British mysteries, gripping crime dramas and even more Kpop.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gripping
Adjective
And that's not even counting any of the wholly original new shows this fall that are smart, gripping and exciting.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Festivals of flamenco song are popular in the summers of Andalucia, Spain, but in the United States, this festival is one of a kind, presenting a unique opportunity for South Florida audiences to experience this gripping, traditional music with strong Moorish, Gypsy, and Jewish influences.
—Emily Cardenas, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
Alibaba’s progress in AI—where it is considered among the front-runners in Chinese artificial intelligence development—helped gloss over concerns about the three-way battle gripping online commerce.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 1 Sep. 2025
Tense international spy thrillers, cozy British mysteries, gripping crime dramas and even more Kpop.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gripping
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gripping
Adjective
-
So, ask yourself, Is my profile accurate, up-to-date, relevant, interesting, impressive, and credible?—
William Arruda,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
What makes the show interesting, however, isn’t just the chemistry between the trio of anchors, though that is certainly part of the equation.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The difference here is how explicitly that tragedy appears, whereas the director built much of her best work on nuance and suggestion — on the viewer experiencing events rather than fully grasping them.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Sep. 2025
-
There have been many previous perching drone designs, but these typically have hooks or grasping claws to hold on to branches or powerlines, or use magnets or gecko-like feet to attach to vertical surfaces.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Its plots were familiar yet engaging, and its characters were the kind viewers wanted to spend time with week after week.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The process of sitting became vitally important to Bella, as did proving herself an engaging enough companion.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Harry clutching a red-hot doorknob, Marv taking a paint can to the face — right up to the gruesome sound effect, then had the music stand down for the sizzling or thwacking payoff.—
Tim Greiving,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Some are fantastical – think Shrimp Jesus – and some are believable at a quick glance – remember the little girl clutching a puppy in a boat during a flood?—
Adam Nemeroff,
The Conversation,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Then the picture begins to blur before coming back into clear focus to reveal Novak, still enchanting at 92, standing in a room filled with her paintings.—
Jeremy Helligar,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In the photo, Elordi stood behind Romy, holding a glass of wine as Romy stuck her tongue out at the camera.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The Packers controlled the line of scrimmage, holding the league’s top-scoring offense from 2024 to just 13 points.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Long-Term Perspective For long-term investors with a 3-5 year outlook and the ability to withstand volatility, URBN at its current valuation offers an intriguing entry point.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The exchange is indicative of this odd, frustrating, occasionally intriguing project, which pads out scarce but real nuggets of insight with leading questions and endless clips.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
More than a month after his death, Ozzy Osbourne’s music has largely slipped away from the Billboard charts following the headline-grabbing news that one of rock’s founding fathers had passed away.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
SpaceX was also famously involved in funding and operating the headline-grabbing Polaris Dawn crewed commercial mission in September 2024.—
Eric Lagatta,
AZCentral.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gripping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gripping. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share