as in grip
the act or manner of holding
she tried to maintain her tight handhold on the umbrella as the wind picked up
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of handhold
Making his way blindly back around the jagged metal shard, moving along the side of the Gemini—finding the handholds and Velcro and the ship’s aft cable without the benefit of vision, all the while battling to keep his heart rate under control—was no small thing.
—
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 11 Nov. 2025
That would cut off access to the narrow gaps between train cars where subway surfers use handholds to hoist themselves onto the roof.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
Instead of using natural handholds in the rock, via ferrata climbers move almost exclusively using artificial hardware drilled into the rock face, such as chains, cables, bridges, and ladders, and are attached to these fixtures via a tether and harness at all times.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 29 Sep. 2025
The entire playground has a spongy surface; there is specialized seating and handholds.
—Yadira Sanchez Olson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handhold
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 11 Nov. 2025
That would cut off access to the narrow gaps between train cars where subway surfers use handholds to hoist themselves onto the roof.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
Instead of using natural handholds in the rock, via ferrata climbers move almost exclusively using artificial hardware drilled into the rock face, such as chains, cables, bridges, and ladders, and are attached to these fixtures via a tether and harness at all times.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 29 Sep. 2025
The entire playground has a spongy surface; there is specialized seating and handholds.
—Yadira Sanchez Olson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handhold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handhold
Noun
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At this point, the foils can lose grip in the water, much like the feeling of understeer or oversteer when cornering at high speed in a car.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
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All three discs are manufactured using DX plastic, which offers a comfortable grip and reliable performance in a variety of weather conditions.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Many in the investment community acknowledged the loss of the wit and storytelling that were Buffett’s signature, but were also reassured by the demonstration of Abel’s firm grasp over Berkshire’s sprawling enterprise, as well as his insights into the conglomerate’s future direction.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
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Learning a dozen-plus pitchers, getting a grasp on their repertoires, determining how they can best be handled and what makes each tick was a challenge, along with understanding how the Rays do things.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handhold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handhold. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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