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
Tajul Islam, 55, is accused of groping and molesting the victims inside Masjid Bilal Queens on Sutphin Blvd.
—
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
Jennifer Jackson, 39, was charged with felony counts of groping a 15-year-old girl and vandalism.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 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
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
Jennifer Jackson, 39, was charged with felony counts of groping a 15-year-old girl and vandalism.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 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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Santillan appears to be fumbling away his opportunity, allowing nine runs (eight earned) over his last five appearances.—
Mike Barner,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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But Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace hit three-pointers while Smart was fumbling the ball and James and Hachimura were missing shots, while an Oklahoma City 8-0 run eventually gave them another 13-point lead that was never again challenged.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Qassem and Hanan drove from one hospital to another, trying to find Malak, while Ali stayed behind and kept looking for Zahra.—
Rania Abouzeid,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
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Sheriff’s homicide investigators are looking into the case.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Groping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/groping. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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