gropes

verb

present tense third-person singular of grope
as in fumbles
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

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 gropes In the video, a woman exposes herself and an officer, identified by investigators as Herman, gropes her, police said in a statement last year. — Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gropes
  1. fumbles
  2. looks
  3. reaches
Verb
  • Tensions between the galley and the interior continue to escalate over lunch service, when a radio mishap fumbles the order in which the food should go out.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 26 May 2026
  • The movie fumbles the chance to do something arresting with this seminal period in art.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 12 May 2026
Definition of fumbles
Verb
  • Finding that balance, Amin said, looks different for every family.
    — Tara Duncan, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Do not agree to a setup that looks generous but doesn’t benefit you.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of looks
Verb
  • The same new moon responsible for the eclipse will leave the night sky free from moonlight as the Perseid meteor shower reaches its annual maximum.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Manufacturing meth on-island is pretty much impossible — there aren’t many places to hide a meth lab — so most meth that reaches Hawaii comes from the mainland, as is the case with most products consumed on the islands.
    — Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of reaches

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Cite this Entry

“Gropes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gropes. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gropes

Nglish: Translation of gropes for Spanish Speakers

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