1
as in clenched
to have or keep in one's hands
gripped the handlebars tightly and raced down the hill
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fascinated
to hold the attention of as if by a spell
that true crime story gripped me as much as any whodunit
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in interested
to hold the attention of
that movie will grip any true sports car fan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in grasped
to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms
the baby gripped my fingers and wouldn't let go
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gripped
This product comes with a lifetime warranty and the handle is easily gripped.
—
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
That's paltry for the region this time of year, echoing the broader trend of a snow drought that has gripped the rest of Arizona and much of the Western United States.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Fears of federal immigration enforcement have gripped youth sports across the country.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
Rex Heuermann, the man charged with seven of the Gilgo Beach murders that gripped Long Island, New York, is expected to plead guilty next month, according to a source.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
Without rain in the forecast for the next seven days, the extreme drought that has gripped the Interstate 35 corridor, including the Austin metro area, parts of the Texas Hill Country and much of the region's watersheds is likely to not only persist but also intensify.
—Roberto Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 21 Mar. 2026
Inflation fears have gripped global markets, causing Treasury yields to jump Thursday as gold and silver prices plummet.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
The classic image is an Igloo cooler gripped by a medical worker leaping off a helicopter.
—Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
Scrubs star Zach Braff just gripped his hand tightly around the Streisand-effect lever and heaved it down hard.
—Megh Wright, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
That's paltry for the region this time of year, echoing the broader trend of a snow drought that has gripped the rest of Arizona and much of the Western United States.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Fears of federal immigration enforcement have gripped youth sports across the country.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
Rex Heuermann, the man charged with seven of the Gilgo Beach murders that gripped Long Island, New York, is expected to plead guilty next month, according to a source.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
Without rain in the forecast for the next seven days, the extreme drought that has gripped the Interstate 35 corridor, including the Austin metro area, parts of the Texas Hill Country and much of the region's watersheds is likely to not only persist but also intensify.
—Roberto Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 21 Mar. 2026
Inflation fears have gripped global markets, causing Treasury yields to jump Thursday as gold and silver prices plummet.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
The classic image is an Igloo cooler gripped by a medical worker leaping off a helicopter.
—Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
Scrubs star Zach Braff just gripped his hand tightly around the Streisand-effect lever and heaved it down hard.
—Megh Wright, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gripped
Verb
-
Among many Niger Deltans, there’s a mixture of ignorance, nonchalance, and clenched resignation around the industry’s environmental dangers, which take a back seat as folks get on with the business of everyday survival.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
-
After Barrett finished the sequence with a dunk on the other end, Barnes turned back to his bench, clenched his fists and screamed.—
Eric Koreen,
New York Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The vice president added that he has long been fascinated by the subject and hinted at his interest in reviewing classified information during his time in office.—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2026
-
For decades, the Zeigler case has fascinated the public around the world, leading to television shows, books, documentaries and a variety of crime sleuths creating various conspiracy theories.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That’s what interested us as well.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
-
These stories are not only fun to read, but also provide valuable information about ideas that interested early Christians.—
Christy Cobb,
The Conversation,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When Chinese alchemists invented gunpowder in the ninth century, no one grasped the full range of its potential uses.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Finland grasped this eight years ago.—
Andrew Rasiej,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One woman clutched her young, smiling child with a look of pure horror on her face.—
Megan Armstrong,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Others brought flowers, clutched to their chests.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Irvi was enchanted and unnerved by Oaxaca’s clear blue skies, unmarred by skyscrapers.—
Caitlin Dickerson,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Along with the clear Bowie and Orbison inspiration, the album’s influences reflect the tastes of someone recently enchanted by the romance of California.—
Millan Verma,
Pitchfork,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
He’s currently projected as a second-rounder, but NBA scouts are intrigued by his defensive ability and versatility.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
-
And then there were fans intrigued by the league’s potential holiday play, particularly the idea of a Thanksgiving Eve spotlight.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 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
Cite this Entry
“Gripped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gripped. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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