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
Anastasia Sanger, Glamour, 22 Dec. 2025
Under, for the vast majority of the past 35 years or so, has barely even been close, let alone a gripping contest.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
Grace Dean, Space.com, 20 Dec. 2025
One part romance-forward saeguk, one part legal drama, and one part con survival story, The Tale of Lady Ok stays gripping across 16 episodes.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gripping
Adjective
It was beautifully shot, well-acted, and gripping.
—Anastasia Sanger, Glamour, 22 Dec. 2025
Under, for the vast majority of the past 35 years or so, has barely even been close, let alone a gripping contest.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
Verb
Cameron tells a fantastically tense sci-fi tale, gripping audiences with the heart-wrenching relationship of Bud and Lindsey, and the romantic tension that builds throughout is a welcome reprieve from the intense water-dwelling extraterrestrials.
—Grace Dean, Space.com, 20 Dec. 2025
One part romance-forward saeguk, one part legal drama, and one part con survival story, The Tale of Lady Ok stays gripping across 16 episodes.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gripping
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gripping
Adjective
-
The Cowboys have mastered the art of entertaining and interesting better than any sports franchise in the world, but there is a redundancy that to the person who spends a lot of their money on it is justifiably checked out.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Seeing these guys unapologetically portrayed by an actor whose superpower is the audience is always with him was interesting.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Wole faced fixedly forward, both fists clenching the steering wheel.—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
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
Verb
-
Our guide to the best upcoming sci-fi movies in 2026 features a blockbuster mix of popular franchises, intriguing one-offs, and one of the greatest directors of all time heading back to alien visitation territory.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
31 Dec. 2025
-
New York has intriguing young outfielders in Jasson Domínguez and Spencer jones, but Bellinger was the team's second best player in the lineup this season.—
Shaun McAvoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But Taylor, who studies how the internet interacts with culture, says the rise of vagueposting coincides with a public discontent with just how grasping social media has become.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
11 Jan. 2026
-
After signing with the Broncos in 2025, he’s just been focused on grasping a newfound status as a captain.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
25 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
This is more engaging and strikes an emotional chord and can be seen as more popular, anyone can understand it.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Each one is spotlighted in a concise yet engaging story that typically lasts a couple of pages.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Dejected and weary, clutching a bag of bread, Pedro walked with a fist pressed to his mouth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Reminders of the Golden Knights’ 2023 Stanley Cup are everywhere, like in the giant photo of William Karlsson clutching the Cup above the entrance to the practice facility in Summerlin.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At times, partners may have had a special mystique, enchanting you with their powers that may have sucked you in — for the better — or instead, like an addiction.—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
4 Jan. 2026
-
If that wasn't enchanting enough, they were then joined by their original Broadway counterparts, Kristin Chenoweth (Glinda) and Idina Menzel (Elphaba).—
Jillian Sederholm,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gripping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gripping. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
