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
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2026
Her exterior countenance reveals the inner storm in completely believable and gripping ways.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2026
The audio tour, narrated by former guards and inmates, is genuinely gripping for older kids.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gripping
Adjective
The ways of the ultra-wealthy come under scrutiny in the gripping three-part documentary series The Oligarch and the Art Dealer, directed by Andreas Dalsgaard.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2026
Her exterior countenance reveals the inner storm in completely believable and gripping ways.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
Economic pressures are gripping Americans across the country, but Maryland stands out as a uniquely unaffordable state — in large part due to a complete lack of executive commitment to keep the state affordable and economically prosperous.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2026
The audio tour, narrated by former guards and inmates, is genuinely gripping for older kids.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gripping
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gripping
Adjective
-
Time will tell, but at the very least this should be the most interesting season of baseball at PNC Park in a long, long time.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Also interesting is that the characters have no faces, in keeping with Dakota art tradition, as is the background of ledger paper.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Protect against teeth grinding, clenching and enamel damage with custom dental solutions from ClearClub.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Melvin Council stood amid a crowd of his Kansas teammates, clenching a black belt in his fist.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
25 Jan. 2026
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
-
There’s familiarity there, but there’s also intriguing talent with Thompson.—
SportsDay Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The likes of Xabi Alonso, Enzo Maresca and Roberto De Zerbi are intriguing new options, but none offer the combination of experience, tactical flexibility and past silverware than Tuchel, a manager who brings solidity in and out of possession.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Faster grasping smarter robots The team tested HEAPGrasp on a real robotic setup across 20 scenarios involving different combinations of transparent, opaque, and reflective objects.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Mar. 2026
-
For a human, grasping the pattern typically takes seconds.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The world is more interesting — more engaging but also more wondrous — when thought and care for aesthetics is built into even the most mundane tasks and objects.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The flashbacks to Emma’s adolescence, which Borgli films with some curiosity, are far more engaging than the film’s depictions of the chatty Boston bourgeoisie, which exude self-satisfied certainty.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
They're dressed differently each year — alternately wearing a Christmas sweater or clutching a Georgia peach ice cream sandwich — and officials haven't confirmed or denied rumors this might be their last year on the shelves.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Unfortunately, turbulence is getting worse as global weather patterns change, which can leave even confident passengers clutching their armrests from time to time.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The face enchanting enough to gain entry into this party of the Four Hundred.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
This enchanting 500-year-old Grade II cottage is set in 12 acres of mature gardens and land – including paddocks, a kitchen garden, and access with frontage on the River Arun (including fishing rights), ideal for kayaking and other water pursuits.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gripping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gripping. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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