1
as in wrestling
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
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2
as in grabbing
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 grappling
The show depicted her and several other teenage girls grappling with the hardships of motherhood.
—
Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
At the same time, one of the most accomplished independent producers of the last 40 years is publicly grappling with the possibility that the system that sustained his career no longer exists.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
The publication also seeks to become the community’s go-to source for reliable information on the rebuilding process and to provide specific advice for residents and businesses grappling with building permits and insurance claims.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Sequoia Union is one of dozens of Bay Area school districts grappling with budget deficits and declining enrollment.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grappling
Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
At the same time, one of the most accomplished independent producers of the last 40 years is publicly grappling with the possibility that the system that sustained his career no longer exists.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
The publication also seeks to become the community’s go-to source for reliable information on the rebuilding process and to provide specific advice for residents and businesses grappling with building permits and insurance claims.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Sequoia Union is one of dozens of Bay Area school districts grappling with budget deficits and declining enrollment.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grappling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grappling
Verb
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Albeit, there are some emotional stakes to the character’s arc of wrestling with his past mistakes, as well as to the love triangle between three people who truly care about each other, despite their pasts (and futures).—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
15 Mar. 2026
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The question most are wrestling with right now is, how long will the lag period — and friction — between these two cycles last?—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The news led Deadline to pose the question of whether happenstance means Cannes might struggle to add headline-grabbing movies this year, with several other blockbusters unlikely to screen there.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
13 Mar. 2026
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Video of that incident shows Peters grabbing the other woman and shoving her into the center of a hallway.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Nuggets have been fighting one battle after another for the last week, facing four Western Conference playoff teams in four different cities.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
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Coalitions of national and local news organizations, including The Associated Press, have been fighting to preserve media access in the case.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But for most fans not wealthy enough to buy VIP ticket packages, catching a glimpse in-person required navigating a complicated and convoluted system just for the chance to pay high prices.—
Alex Mayyasi,
NPR,
17 Mar. 2026
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Scientists track meteors through a network of special cameras that help capture the night sky, but more members of the public are catching them on cellphones and security cameras of their own.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Reviews Are In Reese’s Marshmallow is now available in stores nationwide, and fans of the brand have already been snatching up the treat to give it a taste for themselves—and share their reviews.—
Joseph Erbentraut,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Mar. 2026
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Lots of us can remember George Graham’s Arsenal snatching the league from Liverpool in 1989 and the epic, almost indescribable drama of Michael Thomas scoring the decisive goal with virtually the last kick of the season.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Even after seizing a wanted dictator out of Venezuela and while monitoring an air war in Iran.—
John Scott Lewinski,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
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But seizing it will require more than capital and talent.—
François Candelon,
Fortune,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Then be sure to check out our collection of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography, along with our beginners guide to capturing the glowing band of the Milky Way with a DSLR camera.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
15 Mar. 2026
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The film unfolds through poetic and carefully composed images of the girls journeying through the mountainous landscape – an environment that reflects the girls’ inner world, according to Chen, capturing that fragile moment before childhood gives way to adulthood.—
Lise Pedersen,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This alternating and reciprocal motion is not just about getting you from point A to point B.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
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So a little less than half of the time in between the Bolt ending production and today was spent just getting everything set up in the factory and getting that line going again.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grappling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grappling. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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