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
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Recent Examples of gripping
Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
After two gripping seasons, Hulu’s Reasonable Doubt returned this fall with its most high-stakes story yet.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 25 Sep. 2025
Nina Subkhanberdina, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Check out the full list of gripping new films, series, and documentaries below.
—Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gripping
Adjective
For viewers who love the wild and bombastic games in Borderland, Saw will be a seriously gripping (and terrifying) franchise to start watching — especially since the traps in Saw often push its victims to some pretty extreme limits, just like in Borderland.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
After two gripping seasons, Hulu’s Reasonable Doubt returned this fall with its most high-stakes story yet.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
In Kazakhstan, the young soccer players watched together, gripping their heads in disbelief as their club was matched with arguably the greatest club in world soccer.
—Nina Subkhanberdina, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Check out the full list of gripping new films, series, and documentaries below.
—Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gripping
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gripping
Adjective
-
Because that could really be interesting.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
22 Oct. 2025
-
This has created interesting bedfellows, where politicians on both sides of the aisle increasingly agree that regulations must be streamlined to support supply.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Wole faced fixedly forward, both fists clenching the steering wheel.—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
The father, Fyodor Karamazov, is a grasping, lecherous, deceitful, and shameless widower.—
Karl Ove Knausgaard,
New Yorker,
21 Oct. 2025
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Furthermore, these grasping abilities would have also helped climb.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The series cemented Kinney’s spot in children’s libraries across the country and among lists of the most engaging kids’ books.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
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The Red Shirt’s job is to be dynamic, engaging and memorable.—
Jason BARNARD,
Rolling Stone,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The video ends with Beer, eyes still filled with tears, clutching a locket in bed.—
Jack Irvin,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
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In the photo, Manganiello is seen clutching a chihuahua as his fiancée shows off her engagement ring.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Oct. 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
-
But when Ronnie set the theater's copy of The Music Man in motion on the projector, Matty appeared on screen holding what looked like a baby swaddled in a blanket.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
27 Oct. 2025
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In photos obtained by the outlet, the pair could be seen walking out of the theater while holding hands and smiling.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gripping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gripping. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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