as in fumbling
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of groping
The prosecution’s theory was that Moseby started by flirting with students, then began groping them while disguising the action as legitimate help with cheer moves.
—
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
Everyone—libidinous kids and adults alike—is alienated and groping for distraction, until tragedy strikes.
—The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 21 Dec. 2025
Among his convictions, Rahab was convicted of groping the butts of at least three different women and a 15-year-old girl in 2023.
—Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Nov. 2025
One aide filed a police report accusing him of groping her breast, though a district attorney declined to prosecute.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
But the Jets have been mostly inept for a decade and a half, and the franchise has been groping for some sort of good fortune.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
The initial incident occurred at the semi-annual Monster-Mania Con in Cherry Hill, New Jersey in August 2022, with several women who posed with Busey accusing the actor groping them.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2025
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
Everyone—libidinous kids and adults alike—is alienated and groping for distraction, until tragedy strikes.
—The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 21 Dec. 2025
Among his convictions, Rahab was convicted of groping the butts of at least three different women and a 15-year-old girl in 2023.
—Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Nov. 2025
One aide filed a police report accusing him of groping her breast, though a district attorney declined to prosecute.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
But the Jets have been mostly inept for a decade and a half, and the franchise has been groping for some sort of good fortune.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
The initial incident occurred at the semi-annual Monster-Mania Con in Cherry Hill, New Jersey in August 2022, with several women who posed with Busey accusing the actor groping them.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for groping
Verb
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The image of Gobert fumbling with the ball and having his shot attempt rim out has been a lasting one.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Georgia Tech also went 3 of 6, fumbling at the BYU 11-yard line in the third quarter and having a 35-yard field goal by Aidan Birr blocked late in the quarter.—
CBS News Atlanta Digital Team,
CBS News,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
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When reading transfer essays, admissions officers are looking for maturity, purpose, and intellectual curiosity.—
Christopher Rim,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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Regina was standing by the window now, looking even more gaunt under the artificial light of the bulb behind her and the faint glow of the sunrise in front, which barely managed to filter through the balcony awning.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Groping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/groping. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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