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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
  • DeLand was driving inside the 20 yard line and Taihj Moore fumbles, recovered by Lake Mary.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Buford scored 17 points off three Gainesville fumbles on punt plays.
    — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of fumbles
Verb
  • Even so, the mooted $35 billion valuation looks heroic, said FT Alphaville.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The shag haircut is versatile and looks great on almost every face shape.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of looks
Verb
  • In travel, great service starts before the guest reaches the desk.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • What begins as a trivial disagreement reaches new proportions regarding how far a lack of dialogue can drive people.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of reaches

Browse Nearby Words

groped
gropes
groping
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Cite this Entry

“Gropes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gropes. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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