1
as in grip
the act or manner of holding
was simply unable to break my opponent's viselike grapple and lost the wrestling match
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in struggle
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
after a grapple with his conscience, he confessed to having an affair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to wrestle
to seize and attempt to unbalance one another for the purpose of achieving physical mastery
two sumo wrestlers grappling like a pair of mammoth bears
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
a crane grappled the sunken boat and hoisted it above water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grapple
Jeff Mason, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
As Central Texas grapples with one of its worst flooding disasters, which has claimed at least 110 lives and left 170 people missing, acts of courage shine through the darkness.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 9 July 2025
Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
According to Altman, the most difficult issue the company is grappling with recently is how ChatGPT approaches suicide, in light of a lawsuit from a family who blamed the chatbot for their teenage son's suicide.
—Dylan Butts, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grapple
Noun
More: Judge grapples with whether Trump was justified in firing Lisa Cook from Fed
Cook and her supporters contend that the fraud allegations are a pretext to remove her so Trump could appoint an ally to the central bank who would promote his policy wishes.
—Jeff Mason, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
As Central Texas grapples with one of its worst flooding disasters, which has claimed at least 110 lives and left 170 people missing, acts of courage shine through the darkness.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 9 July 2025
Verb
Shrinking is a dark comedy about therapists who grapple with their own challenges while also practicing mental health therapy for others.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
According to Altman, the most difficult issue the company is grappling with recently is how ChatGPT approaches suicide, in light of a lawsuit from a family who blamed the chatbot for their teenage son's suicide.
—Dylan Butts, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapple
Noun
-
Is this the secret sauce, the narrative catnip, that has held viewers in its grip for so long?—
Thomas Page,
CNN Money,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The mouse is perfect for palm-grip players like me.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Friction is the artist's struggle, the mentor's challenge, and the co-founder's disagreement.—
Curt Steinhorst,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Those struggles compounded during an alarming first half last season, spurring former coach Peter Laviolette to try something new.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Instead of encouraging students to wrestle with opposing views, many campuses reward silence or groupthink.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
But while salons have offered steam treatments as a curly hair staple for decades, at-home steamers have been too bulky (attempting to replicate in-salon domes) or too hard to use, requiring you to wrestle your curls into heated thermal caps, a battle that’s easy to lose.—
Megan McIntyre,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Plus, grab knife sets and a nifty electric can opener to streamline your cooking.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
16 Sep. 2025
-
As Jey checked on Jimmy, LA Knight grabbed the steel chair and teased hitting Jey Uso.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Industry executives such as Aravind Kamireddy grasp the reality that plugging the talent gap is not an overnight solution but rather a strategic need.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Should the Giants maintain this brand of ball, October baseball is well within their grasp.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Republicans were unfazed by Democrats threatening to withhold their votes, accusing them of hypocrisy for condemning GOP efforts to win policy concessions in past funding battles.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The iconic items fit well in this book given how many Avengers don’t feel complete without a gadget or mystical item to carry into battle.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Kirk was killed in Utah on Wednesday and the suspect, Tyler Robinson, was caught after his father turned him in to authorities on Friday.—
Luke Barr,
ABC News,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Use any type of soft plastic lures to catch black bass.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The remaining 10 analysts have a hold equivalent rating.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Wolff's reported talks with Verstappen for a potential move to his team in F1 made headlines ahead of the summer break, while George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli's contract extensions were kept on hold for the same reason.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapple. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share