Synonyms of grips

grips 1 of 2

noun

plural of grip

1

as in suitcases

a bag carried by hand and designed to hold a traveler's clothing and personal articles

she placed her grip in the train's overhead rack and seated herself comfortably

Synonyms & Similar Words

• suitcases
• wallets
• backpacks
• kits
• traveling bags
• carryalls
• holdalls
• portmanteaus
• bags
• briefcases
• luggage
• handbags
• attaché cases
• duffel bags
• kit bags
• overnight bags
• attachés
• carry-ons
• carpetbags
• cosmetic cases
• packsacks
• traveling cases
• weekenders
• rucksacks
• knapsacks
• haversacks
• weekend bags
• valises
• baggages

2

as in grasps

the act or manner of holding

get a better grip on the lid and try to open the jar again

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grasps
• holds
• clasps
• clenches
• handholds
• handgrips
• grapples
• grabs
• hugs
• purchases
• footings
• anchorages
• seizures
• footholds
• leverages
• embraces
• toeholds
• clinches

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• releases
• relinquishments

3

as in understandings

the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something

he has a good grip on basic Spanish grammar and spelling

Synonyms & Similar Words

• understandings
• perceptions
• grasps
• appreciations
• comprehensions
• apprehensions
• holds
• percipiences
• absorptions
• conceptions
• uptakes
• digestions
• assimilations
• realizations
• enlightenments
• visualizations

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• misunderstandings
• incomprehensions
• misperceptions
• misinterpretations
• misapprehensions
• miscomprehensions

4

as in controls

the right or means to command or control others

a tyrant that keeps the masses tightly in his grip

Synonyms & Similar Words

• controls
• powers
• sways
• dominions
• reigns
• reins
• clutches
• arms
• authorities
• death grips
• commands
• jurisdictions
• holds
• influences
• pulls
• privileges
• sovereignties
• weights
• dominances
• voices
• managements
• rights
• leverages
• masteries
• directions
• clouts
• prerogatives
• supremacies
• predominances
• imperiums
• moments
• importances
• eminences

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weaknesses
• impotences
• impotencies

5

as in handles

a part by which an implement is held

bought new pots with heat-resistant grips

Synonyms & Similar Words

• handles
• hilts
• handgrips
• shafts
• bows
• hafts
• loops
• helves
• handlebars
• bars
• crops
• bails
• broomsticks
• whipstocks

grips

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of grip

1

as in clutches

to have or keep in one's hands

gripped the handlebars tightly and raced down the hill

Synonyms & Similar Words

• clutches
• clenches
• holds
• grabs
• carries
• clings (to)
• cradles
• takes
• handles
• grasps
• fingers
• traps
• bags
• holds on to
• snatches
• feels
• hooks
• hangs on to
• nails
• captures
• lands
• clasps
• grapples
• seizes
• hugs
• catches
• snaps (up)
• snares
• latches (on or onto)
• embraces
• collars
• paws
• bears
• corrals
• nabs

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hands
• gives
• drops
• unclasps
• renders
• yields
• releases
• delivers
• relinquishes
• hands out
• unhands
• turns over
• cedes
• hands over
• gives up

2

as in fascinates

to hold the attention of as if by a spell

that true crime story gripped me as much as any whodunit

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fascinates
• enchants
• thrills
• hypnotizes
• mesmerizes
• arrests
• enthralls
• spellbinds
• bedazzles
• catches up
• entrances
• charms
• enraptures
• engages
• engrosses
• involves
• bewitches
• absorbs
• beguiles

3

as in interests

to hold the attention of

that movie will grip any true sports car fan

Synonyms & Similar Words

• interests
• intrigues
• occupies
• immerses
• fascinates
• involves
• attracts
• busies
• engages
• engrosses
• absorbs
• enwraps
• distracts
• bemuses
• enthralls
• preoccupies
• enchants
• obsesses
• catches one's eye
• charms
• captivates
• catches up
• allures
• hypnotizes
• mesmerizes
• bewitches
• hogs
• beguiles
• monopolizes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bores
• tires
• palls
• wearies
• jades

4

as in holds

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

• grasps
• holds
• takes
• clasps
• clenches
• lays hold of
• clutches
• catches
• holds on (to)
• clings (to)
• hangs on to
• snatches
• seizes
• nabs

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• releases
• frees
• drops
• liberates
• discharges
• hands
• gives
• passes
• delivers
• transfers
• transmits
• relinquishes
• turns over
• entrusts
• hands over
• unhands

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of grips

Noun

In the wake of October 7, antisemitism has been an issue the BBC has struggled to get to grips with and documentary strand Storyville is in the eye of the storm. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026

Heated grips come as standard, while a reversible gearshift mechanism allows riders to switch to a race-style reverse shifting pattern for circuit use. — New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026

The majority of the prints are located on arms, armor, and heads, the areas where a potter grips and molds the pieces. — News Desk, Artforum, 21 Oct. 2026

The United States’ two largest reservoirs have dropped to unprecedented lows this year as drought grips the Southwest, but below the ground there’s another water crisis playing out — one that’s much less visible, but no less alarming. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026

Although first published nearly fifty years ago, this is still the best place to start for anyone who wants to get to grips with the Venetian Republic. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

The older contingent of media and entertainment leaders have to come to grips with the fact that the world’s population is getting younger. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Smesko had come to grips with the fact that winning a national championship at FGCU was highly unlikely. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

The controller attaches to your phone magnetically and pops out to reveal a full-size gamepad with thumbsticks, analog triggers and fold-out grips. — Jessica Sager, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Verb

The Mercyenforcer grips the handle of his light in his bare hand to look into my other eye. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026

New Orleans is facing an unusual weather combination as Tropical Storm Bertha moves along the northern Gulf Coast while dangerous heat grips the region. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 22 July 2026

Your makeup will only look as good as your base, and the hydrating formula leaves a beautiful, glowy canvas that grips onto foundation and prevents makeup from settling into fine lines. — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 8 July 2026

Together with slight pressure from your foot, the claw head and pedal penetrates soil, grips the weed, and pulls it straight out of the ground from its roots. — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 18 June 2026

In one example, the robot grips a can sideways, a simple mistake that could lead to spills, showing that human-like understanding remains limited. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 Apr. 2026

Fast forward to today and those fears have materialized with dizzying speed as a historic oil and gas crisis sparked by the US and Israel’s war with Iran grips the world. — John Liu, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026

This shoe is also outfitted with a high-traction outsole that effectively grips the ground for a stable landing every time. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2026

DeepSeek, the Chinese AI startup challenging the leaders of Silicon Valley, posted a cluster of job openings for specialists in agentic artificial intelligence and other positions, as enthusiasm for the technology that can carry out tasks without human intervention grips China. — Saritha Rai, Bloomberg, 24 Mar. 2026

Phrases Containing grips

• come to grips with