as in fumbled
to search for something blindly or uncertainly
she groped in her purse for her car keys groping for the right answer
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Recent Examples of groped
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 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
During the ride, one of the men groped Rosalinda, who was fourteen.
—Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 30 Dec. 2025
Derek Dixon, who appeared in The Oval and Ruthless, sued Perry in June, alleging that the mogul pinned him against a wall and groped him.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 26 Dec. 2025
Look no further than Mexico’s first woman president, who was recently groped on the street during a public appearance.
—Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 21 Dec. 2025
The victim told police that Hamilton began performing the massage and then groped her, slid his hands down her body and assaulted her, according to a Davidson County arrest affidavit.
—Kelly Puente, Nashville Tennessean, 16 Dec. 2025
Harry had claimed Kevin Spacey groped him amid the wave of MeToo allegations.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 20 Nov. 2025
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will press charges against a man who groped her in public, in a brazen display that experts say underscores the country’s rampant misogyny.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 20 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
During the ride, one of the men groped Rosalinda, who was fourteen.
—Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 30 Dec. 2025
Derek Dixon, who appeared in The Oval and Ruthless, sued Perry in June, alleging that the mogul pinned him against a wall and groped him.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 26 Dec. 2025
Look no further than Mexico’s first woman president, who was recently groped on the street during a public appearance.
—Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 21 Dec. 2025
The victim told police that Hamilton began performing the massage and then groped her, slid his hands down her body and assaulted her, according to a Davidson County arrest affidavit.
—Kelly Puente, Nashville Tennessean, 16 Dec. 2025
Harry had claimed Kevin Spacey groped him amid the wave of MeToo allegations.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 20 Nov. 2025
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will press charges against a man who groped her in public, in a brazen display that experts say underscores the country’s rampant misogyny.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for groped
Verb
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Payton fumbled on the second play from scrimmage, and the Patriots recovered at the Bears' 19-yard line.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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To do so, the Patriots must keep enough heat off Drake Maye, who has taken 10 sacks and fumbled six times in the playoffs.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Out of the bloodstains shone a pair of bright blue eyes, and a heart was beating under the pallid skin that looked several sizes too big.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
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For five years, detectives looked for Townsend.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Among other things, the football team under exceptional coach Chuck Martin reached a bowl game after last season for the ninth time in 10 years, and the women’s basketball team is tied for the MAC lead at 7-0 and 15-4 overall.—
Terence Moore,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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The mediation was scheduled after the two sides officially reached impasse, a legal stage of negotiations that means both sides are no longer able to make progress toward a deal.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Groped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/groped. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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