: taking a powerful hold upon one's interest or feelings
a gripping thriller
Shabba Ranks has a gripping baritone voice that ranges from bedroom purr to locker-room-boast roar.—
Mark Coleman
Mark Coleman
grippingly
adverb
a grippingly honest performance
Examples of gripping in a Sentence
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Beyond acting, McKidd has also become a major creative force behind the camera, directing more than 45 episodes of Grey's Anatomy — including the gripping season 22 finale.
—Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
Reopening the case as a gripping cold-case investigation, the film follows new leads as the search for accountability intensifies.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 6 May 2026
Told in a myriad of voices and tongues, El Sayed’s gripping debut questions who deserves a new start, whether onboard or on land.
—Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Directed by Debbie Allen, the emotionally gripping play is set in a Pittsburgh boarding house.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026
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Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
Reopening the case as a gripping cold-case investigation, the film follows new leads as the search for accountability intensifies.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 6 May 2026
Told in a myriad of voices and tongues, El Sayed’s gripping debut questions who deserves a new start, whether onboard or on land.
—Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Directed by Debbie Allen, the emotionally gripping play is set in a Pittsburgh boarding house.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gripping
Cite this Entry
“Gripping.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gripping. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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