1
as in grips
the act or manner of holding
was simply unable to break my opponent's viselike grapple and lost the wrestling match
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in struggles
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 wrestles
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 grabs
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
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Recent Examples of grapples
Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Four days of grapples, reversals and takedowns are on deck at Grand Casino Arena.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 Feb. 2026
As the entertainment industry in general and Hollywood in particular grapples with the heartbreaking deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner over the weekend, tributes to the beloved couple continue to pour in far and wide.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 17 Dec. 2025
How One Battle After Another grapples with the best ways to wage a revolution.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2025
The matches are intense, with powerful throws and strategic grapples, and the crowd's energy adds to the electric atmosphere.
—NPR, 25 Oct. 2025
Ghesquière said the approach stood out as fashion grapples with the advances of new technologies.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2026
Micro-communities are sprouting around Sacramento as the city grapples with homelessness.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
The data comes as Japan grapples with the fallout from the Iran war, with the country releasing oil stockpiles and enacting fuel subsidies to stave off the worst of the energy shock from the closed Strait of Hormuz.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
Pakistan Last month, Pakistan unveiled a series of measures intended to conserve fuel as the nation grapples with a potentially severe shortage.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Green described the book as one that grapples with modern life in ways that extend far beyond Hollywood.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Finding a fix to AI’s emerging problems will be critical as society still grapples with the effects of social media technology after more than a decade of warnings from parents and child advocates.
—Matt O'Brien, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
As the state grapples with severe housing shortages, Newsom gave the coastal San Mateo County city, and 14 others, 30 days to respond to the notices before the state refers their cases to the attorney general for potential legal action.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026
Scenes like that have become increasingly common at airports across the country, including near the nation's capital, as the Transportation Security Administration grapples with staffing shortages during a partial government shutdown.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
Ritchson's 81 grapples with a severe case of survivor's guilt after watching his brother die in Afghanistan.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Four days of grapples, reversals and takedowns are on deck at Grand Casino Arena.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 Feb. 2026
As the entertainment industry in general and Hollywood in particular grapples with the heartbreaking deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner over the weekend, tributes to the beloved couple continue to pour in far and wide.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 17 Dec. 2025
How One Battle After Another grapples with the best ways to wage a revolution.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2025
The matches are intense, with powerful throws and strategic grapples, and the crowd's energy adds to the electric atmosphere.
—NPR, 25 Oct. 2025
Ghesquière said the approach stood out as fashion grapples with the advances of new technologies.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
The chain, which competes with longtime leader AMC Theatres as well as Regal, has made market share gains of late to about 15 percent of domestic box office as AMC grapples with its debt load and Regal emerges from bankruptcy protection under new leadership.
—Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2026
Micro-communities are sprouting around Sacramento as the city grapples with homelessness.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
The data comes as Japan grapples with the fallout from the Iran war, with the country releasing oil stockpiles and enacting fuel subsidies to stave off the worst of the energy shock from the closed Strait of Hormuz.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
Pakistan Last month, Pakistan unveiled a series of measures intended to conserve fuel as the nation grapples with a potentially severe shortage.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Green described the book as one that grapples with modern life in ways that extend far beyond Hollywood.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Finding a fix to AI’s emerging problems will be critical as society still grapples with the effects of social media technology after more than a decade of warnings from parents and child advocates.
—Matt O'Brien, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
As the state grapples with severe housing shortages, Newsom gave the coastal San Mateo County city, and 14 others, 30 days to respond to the notices before the state refers their cases to the attorney general for potential legal action.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026
Scenes like that have become increasingly common at airports across the country, including near the nation's capital, as the Transportation Security Administration grapples with staffing shortages during a partial government shutdown.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapples
Noun
-
The states with the highest rates have utility rate commissions that do not seem to be able to come to grips with how to charge the data center operators.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The industry still cannot come to grips with the previously unfathomable scenario of the strait staying shuttered for a prolonged period of time.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The committee will share the information with parents and staff on which campuses would be closed and more details on consolidation amid increasing financial struggles.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Screens in education are one factor increasingly under scrutiny as educators and parents search for explanations for this generation’s academic struggles, which became most pronounced during COVID-19 but have lingered even after years back in the physical classroom.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This is definitely something that every fan wrestles with.—
Dan Shanoff,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
-
At left, Nora wrestles Jefferson’s Ella Hughes during the finals of the 135-pound weight class.—
Jason Getz,
AJC.com,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Tomislav Ivišić grabs a rebound against Houston in last weekend's Sweet 16.—
Greg Rosenstein,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
-
After lowering the helicopter to the water's surface, a flight crew member grabs the dog and hauls the pet aboard.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Through universal intelligent manipulation, the robot autonomously plans grasps, adjusts force in real time, and navigates obstacles using seamless hand–eye coordination.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The Hurricanes needed that to happen after the game nearly slipped out of their grasps.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Others are places of conflict caused by rivalries between countries or peoples, disputes over national resources, or disagreements about the past.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
If festive pride persists, it is no longer connected to a country, empire, culture, or race, but the unique traditions of individual municipalities, pitted against one another in fierce but friendly, sportsmanlike rivalries.—
Tim Brinkhof,
JSTOR Daily,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But beyond the watches, what immediately catches the eye upon entering the space is a floor-to-ceiling wall covered in live local greenery.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
3 Apr. 2026
-
But when this happens, what catches many people off guard isn't the garnishment itself, as there are plenty of warning signs beforehand.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At the same time, groups like the nonpartisan Latino Victory Project, which focuses on developing Hispanic political leadership, said this current moment should not distract from the still-ongoing civil rights battles.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Understandably, some gamers may be skeptical or even alarmed, given the ethical issues and legal battles surrounding generative AI.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grapples.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapples. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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