as in to fumble
to search for something blindly or uncertainly
she groped in her purse for her car keys groping for the right answer
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grope
Patients accused Heaps of groping them, performing unnecessarily invasive examinations and making suggestive comments.
—
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026
Taylor claims Lee groped and kissed her and then forced his hand into her pants, penetrating her with his fingers.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 20 Jan. 2026
After literally years of groping around in the dark, Brazil do, at least, have the makings of a plan under Ancelotti.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
After the charges were filed, a man came forward to report that Busfield had allegedly groped the man’s 16-year-old daughter during auditions for a play in Sacramento several years ago.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grope
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026
Taylor claims Lee groped and kissed her and then forced his hand into her pants, penetrating her with his fingers.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 20 Jan. 2026
After literally years of groping around in the dark, Brazil do, at least, have the makings of a plan under Ancelotti.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
After the charges were filed, a man came forward to report that Busfield had allegedly groped the man’s 16-year-old daughter during auditions for a play in Sacramento several years ago.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grope
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grope
Verb
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If the creditor fumbles the process, then an otherwise valid and collectible debt may be barred.—
Virginia Hammerle,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Since the first release in December, critics have accused the administration of fumbling the rollout and withholding too many documents.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Beijing may need to look elsewhere for supply if Iran’s exports are disrupted, another factor that could increase energy prices.—
Alex Veiga,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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The blast caused minor damage and police are looking for one or more suspects, with no casualties reported.—
Nasteho Said,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Scientists expect to learn even more about the impact’s aftermath when the European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft reaches the asteroids in November.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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South Korea’s Defense Ministry declined to comment on US military operations when reached by Bloomberg News.—
Soo-hyang Choi,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grope.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grope. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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