Definition of gropenext
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

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grope There’s always a fear of groping around in the dark; of not even knowing who to talk to. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026 Quaylin Wesley, 27, of Oakland and Vallejo, has been charged with 10 felonies for allegedly going into the girl’s room repeatedly on the night of June 13 and groping her, forcing her to touch him, and attempting to sodomize her, prosecutors say. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026 Love curated these parties to create a space where patrons don’t have to worry about their drink getting spiked, getting groped in the crowd, or their light being dimmed in any way, Love said. — Zuri Primos july 27, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026 Gooding has been accused of groping dozens of women and pleaded guilty to one count of forcible touching in 2022. — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for grope
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grope
Verb
  • On the first play of Rutgers' next drive, Surace was sacked at the Rutgers 8 and fumbled with Northwestern’s Jamaal Johnson recovering.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The Chiefs actually missed a 43-yard field goal that would have won the game in regulation — after Justin Houston forced Lamar Jackson to fumble — but won the game with a short kick in overtime.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The hopeful part is the part where the people who are dealing with the consequences of that look toward their community, look toward their friends, look toward the people around them for support, for help, for unity—all of those sorts of things.
    — Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Only two decades ago, my family looked West for a treatment for my grandmother that was unavailable in China.
    — Ruby Wang, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The Valkyries made history in their inaugural season, becoming the first WNBA expansion team to reach the playoffs in its debut year.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Opinion polls suggest neither Netanyahu’s bloc, which includes far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, nor the anti-Netanyahu bloc are on track to reach a 61-seat majority.
    — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grope.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grope. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster