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
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Recent Examples of gripping
Annika Pham, Variety, 9 Sep. 2025
Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett star in what certainly looks like a gripping spy thriller.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 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
The gripping drama, about a group of Swedish soldiers struggling with the complexities of war in the Balkans in the 1990s, screened earlier at Series Mania and Sarajevo Festival’s Avant Premiere Series.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 9 Sep. 2025
Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett star in what certainly looks like a gripping spy thriller.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 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
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That's a really interesting way to put it.—
H. Alan Scott,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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Sign up for our Park Life newsletter and find out what’s new and interesting every week at Southern California’s theme parks.—
Robert Niles,
Oc Register,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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What lies beneath the surface is hardly a starting point for grasping the breadth and enduring impact of each work.—
Natasha Gural,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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From high-stakes official visits to personal trips, understanding where leaders go, and why, is crucial to grasping the evolving landscape of international diplomacy.—
Collin J. Meisel,
The Conversation,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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For every person holding the statue, there are four or five who came close and didn’t.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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The extra point was good but there was a holding penalty on the Rebels.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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After grabbing an early lead Friday evening, the Royals were unable to match their hosts’ prolific offense on Friday.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
13 Sep. 2025
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The owner squeezed her hands into the mix of kittens, moving the babies and grabbing the one that did not belong, which turned out to be a tiny mouse.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gripping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gripping. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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