1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

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
Adjective
MobLand is a gripping crime drama with an all-star cast, featuring Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza, a problem solver for London's Harrigan crime family. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026 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
Verb
The jaw works quite well, with a stiff hinge and rubberized inner panels for gripping the top of your monitor. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 13 Sep. 2026 Though the adaptation softens Sophoclean ambiguity in favor of moral clarity, commanding performances and lush costumes, projections and Indigenous music create a gripping spectacle that renews the Getty’s classical theater tradition. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 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
  • If studios and financiers knew what was going to work every time, everyone would be rich and the industry would be a lot less interesting.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Bentley The hood gets some interesting detailing, along with a chrome trim along its sides.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 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
  • Congress ultimately adopted this image in the Great Seal of the United States in 1782, with a bald eagle grasping 13 arrows in one foot, and an olive branch representing peace in the other.
    — Scott Baldauf, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of grasping
Adjective
  • All this being said, Brothers can be pretty engaging on a galaxy-brain level.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
  • At her readings, she’s animated and engaging — modeling to parents how story time can be fun for kids, and create positive associations with reading.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of engaging
Verb
  • Dart was clutching at his knee after getting sandwiched between two Rams defenders that beat the Giants’ tackles off the edge, and while airborne, video replay showed his leg shift in an awkward way.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Worse, following behind him was his wife, clutching their infant son, dragging along their young daughter.
    — Claire Hoffman, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of clutching
Verb
  • Even the Owens family’s enchanting New England home, which the internet has spent nearly three decades foaming at the mouth over, is barely seen, as much of the film takes place overseas.
    — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of enchanting

Browse Nearby Words

gripped
gripping
grips
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gripping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gripping. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of argot

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All