grasp for
phrasal verb
grasped for; grasping for; grasps for
: to try in a desperate or awkward way to get (something)
His sudden decision to quit the race has left his supporters grasping for explanations.
grasping for attention
Examples of grasp for in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Democrats and Republicans accused one another of fostering a culture of violence; partisan commentators grasped for any indication that 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, the young man eventually arrested and charged with Kirk’s murder, was motivated by the ideology of their personal political enemies.
—
Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2025
And some Americans—particularly younger generations—have been desperate to break into the housing market, grasping for long-term financial stability and the same security their parents and grandparents earned by buying a home.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2025
Devastated families are grasping for answers after the birthday party mass shooting in Stockton on Saturday night that left four people dead, including three children.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 1 Dec. 2025
The grasping for straws was all for naught, though, because Zendaya actually does eventually agree to be in Mimi’s video.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grasp for
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Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2025
And some Americans—particularly younger generations—have been desperate to break into the housing market, grasping for long-term financial stability and the same security their parents and grandparents earned by buying a home.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2025
Devastated families are grasping for answers after the birthday party mass shooting in Stockton on Saturday night that left four people dead, including three children.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 1 Dec. 2025
The grasping for straws was all for naught, though, because Zendaya actually does eventually agree to be in Mimi’s video.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grasp for
Cite this Entry
“Grasp for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grasp%20for. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
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