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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Recent Examples of groping
Jennifer Jackson, 39, was charged with felony counts of groping a 15-year-old girl and vandalism.
—
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
Sheriff got into a tussle with his killer after the stranger started drunkenly groping women, including the victim’s girlfriend, according to Fawaz.
—Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
Patients accused Heaps of groping them, performing unnecessarily invasive examinations and making suggestive comments.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026
After literally years of groping around in the dark, Brazil do, at least, have the makings of a plan under Ancelotti.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Busfield is accused of groping a 16-year-old girl who was auditioning for a role at the B Street Theatre in Sacramento, according to a prosecution filing.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 Jan. 2026
The current warrant affidavit, which references the Little Big League incident, also cited other prior accusations, including a 2012 groping allegation in Los Angeles.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
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
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
Sheriff got into a tussle with his killer after the stranger started drunkenly groping women, including the victim’s girlfriend, according to Fawaz.
—Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
Patients accused Heaps of groping them, performing unnecessarily invasive examinations and making suggestive comments.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026
After literally years of groping around in the dark, Brazil do, at least, have the makings of a plan under Ancelotti.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Busfield is accused of groping a 16-year-old girl who was auditioning for a role at the B Street Theatre in Sacramento, according to a prosecution filing.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 Jan. 2026
The current warrant affidavit, which references the Little Big League incident, also cited other prior accusations, including a 2012 groping allegation in Los Angeles.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for groping
Verb
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With the title in their grasp, the Ducks have greased up their fingers, fumbling into a four-game winless slump.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
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Last season’s Detroit Tigers endured the worst divisional collapse in history, fumbling an AL Central lead that reached 15 1/2 games in July.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Emergency workers in Beirut spent the day looking for any survivors after Israel launched airstrikes into Lebanon's capital on Wednesday, targeting Hezbollah.—
Marissa Sulek,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
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The formula also includes peptides to soften lines, cocoa extract to provide antioxidant protection, and chronocyclin, a skincare ingredient that helps boost vitamin D in the skin for more youthful-looking, bouncy skin.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Groping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/groping. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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