1
as in hugged
to put one's arms around and press tightly
clasped his long-lost sister and cried without restraint
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in held
to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms
clasped a crayon and began drawing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of clasped
Hands clasped, head bowed, blank and fair of face.
—
Literary Hub, 8 May 2026
While the other candidates pressed their palms against the podiums, ready to pounce on every question, Becerra clasped his hands like an altar boy.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Another girl, Donna Jo, apparently naked on a back-yard lawn, holds several small, round pieces of fruit, still on their leafy branch, clasped to her chest like a trophy.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026
Kneeling beside him is a young woman with hands clasped in prayer in this moment of freedom.
—Tyehimba Jess, ARTnews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Harry stood quietly with his hands clasped until one line appeared to resonate deeply.
—Kylie Walters, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
The oversized coat featured a single button along the collar, which Zendaya wore clasped over her cotton-poplin skirt, creating a voluminous silhouette with an airy effect.
—Staff Author, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026
As Keyla ran around the stage in a black dress adorned with crosses, Richie and Palmer clasped their hands in excitement.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Sitting in a back room at ExtraMile Arena last weekend, Miller clasped hands with old teammate Steve Barrett, who helped pull him to his feet after an hourlong interview with the Statesman.
—Idaho Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
Literary Hub, 8 May 2026
While the other candidates pressed their palms against the podiums, ready to pounce on every question, Becerra clasped his hands like an altar boy.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Another girl, Donna Jo, apparently naked on a back-yard lawn, holds several small, round pieces of fruit, still on their leafy branch, clasped to her chest like a trophy.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026
Kneeling beside him is a young woman with hands clasped in prayer in this moment of freedom.
—Tyehimba Jess, ARTnews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Harry stood quietly with his hands clasped until one line appeared to resonate deeply.
—Kylie Walters, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
The oversized coat featured a single button along the collar, which Zendaya wore clasped over her cotton-poplin skirt, creating a voluminous silhouette with an airy effect.
—Staff Author, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026
As Keyla ran around the stage in a black dress adorned with crosses, Richie and Palmer clasped their hands in excitement.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Sitting in a back room at ExtraMile Arena last weekend, Miller clasped hands with old teammate Steve Barrett, who helped pull him to his feet after an hourlong interview with the Statesman.
—Idaho Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clasped
Verb
-
Prince Harry and Meghan hugged, twirled, dipped and danced across the frames taken during their first dance as a married couple, and the shots showed off new angles of her royal reception dress for the first time.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
Rousey and Carano hugged and shared warm words after the finish, raising each other's arms in victory.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
And the lecture hall on that campus now features a large, ornate mural of a soccer ball being grasped by the hands of two people — freshly painted by the 2004 Morningside graduate as the city of Inglewood prepares to host eight World Cup games at SoFi Stadium starting next month.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
-
American has grasped that this will be a tournament when travel is experienced through friction as much as glamour, and that a brand which removes the challenges is remembered differently.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
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At the last general election, Streeting clung on to his seat in parliament by just 528 votes.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
-
Reigns clung onto the referee and exposed a turnbuckle in the process.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Why were yuppies suddenly gripped by a fever for investment banking?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
-
State and federal investigators returned Tuesday to a North Texas home at the center of the disappearance of a 6-year-old boy, digging up parts of the backyard as authorities pursue new leads in a case that has gripped the community for years.—
Amelia Mugavero,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Longoria took a more casual approach with her look, but the crisp shade made the outfit appear put-together.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
-
The controversy also took a turn after the discovery of a March 2026 interview with outlet El Nuevo Día in which Díaz openly discussed his family’s involvement in the underground circuit.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clasped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clasped. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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