1
as in clenched
to have or keep in one's hands
gripped the handlebars tightly and raced down the hill
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
The leadership change comes as the country remains gripped by gang violence, with armed groups controlling large swaths of Port-au-Prince.
—
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Her baffling disappearance has gripped the nation, leading many Americans to question how an octogenarian leading a sleepy life in the Southwest was taken while her neighbors were asleep.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Some soaking adherents tightly gripped iron chains secured to concrete stairs so the fast-rushing flow from the Himalayas wouldn’t fatally sweep them downstream.
—Norma Meyer, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
Once-quiet block gripped by fear Despite King being behind bars, nearly all the block’s residents talk about their ongoing fears — fear that King might somehow make bail and be released.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2026
Extreme poverty, runaway inflation and political turmoil also gripped Venezuela, with nearly 8 million residents fleeing from 2014 to 2025, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
—Maeva Bambuck, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
High temperatures climbed into the upper 80s during an unseasonably warm stretch, while a record freeze later gripped the city, impacting residents, infrastructure, and daily life.
—Ricardo B. Brazziell, Austin American Statesman, 1 Feb. 2026
What many fans want to see is clear direction and leadership, a feeling of things being firmly gripped and acted upon.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Springsteen's songs have long made references to the United States and its cities, as well as the political issues that have gripped their communities.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Her baffling disappearance has gripped the nation, leading many Americans to question how an octogenarian leading a sleepy life in the Southwest was taken while her neighbors were asleep.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Some soaking adherents tightly gripped iron chains secured to concrete stairs so the fast-rushing flow from the Himalayas wouldn’t fatally sweep them downstream.
—Norma Meyer, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
Once-quiet block gripped by fear Despite King being behind bars, nearly all the block’s residents talk about their ongoing fears — fear that King might somehow make bail and be released.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2026
Extreme poverty, runaway inflation and political turmoil also gripped Venezuela, with nearly 8 million residents fleeing from 2014 to 2025, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
—Maeva Bambuck, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
High temperatures climbed into the upper 80s during an unseasonably warm stretch, while a record freeze later gripped the city, impacting residents, infrastructure, and daily life.
—Ricardo B. Brazziell, Austin American Statesman, 1 Feb. 2026
What many fans want to see is clear direction and leadership, a feeling of things being firmly gripped and acted upon.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Springsteen's songs have long made references to the United States and its cities, as well as the political issues that have gripped their communities.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gripped
Verb
-
My stomach clenched with worry.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Don’t leave home without a rose clenched between your teeth.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
From legal aspirations to a life of art As a girl, I was fascinated by color, texture and creative expressions.—
Anya Sesay,
jsonline.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
His life’s tapestry reflected a unique business, American and Jewish journey that fascinated and inspired me.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Things that interested me as a child, as a teenager and as a young adult still interest me.—
Peter Larsen,
Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
What interested me from the very start was a certain fundamental clash of cultures that the crime seemed to have exposed.—
Scott Eden,
Rolling Stone,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Whether Assad grasped this is impossible to know.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
-
And on top of it all, a social platform has merged where the AI agents can gather to compare notes, with implications that have yet to be fully grasped.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Alessandro clutched his dad tightly.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The pair’s snow boots tramped the nearly week-old Kansas City snow, two candles clutched in their small hands.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
But silver is now an even hotter trade than Nvidia, the high-flying artificial intelligence beneficiary that has enchanted Wall Street since late 2022.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Fletcher was intrigued — there are plenty of ticket buyers out there who want to relive their Hi Infidelity days — until the contract revealed itself to be a bit duplicitous in nature.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
-
For several months, a mysterious sign displayed in the windows of vacant storefront in Shorewood has intrigued passersby along Capitol Drive.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 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 15 Feb. 2026.
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