as in to fumble
to search for something blindly or uncertainly
she groped in her purse for her car keys groping for the right answer
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grope
After literally years of groping around in the dark, Brazil do, at least, have the makings of a plan under Ancelotti.
—
Jack Lang, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
After the charges were filed, a man came forward to report that Busfield had allegedly groped the man’s 16-year-old daughter during auditions for a play in Sacramento several years ago.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 Jan. 2026
The current warrant affidavit, which references the Little Big League incident, also cited other prior accusations, including a 2012 groping allegation in Los Angeles.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
The prosecution’s theory was that Moseby started by flirting with students, then began groping them while disguising the action as legitimate help with cheer moves.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grope
Jack Lang, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
After the charges were filed, a man came forward to report that Busfield had allegedly groped the man’s 16-year-old daughter during auditions for a play in Sacramento several years ago.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 Jan. 2026
The current warrant affidavit, which references the Little Big League incident, also cited other prior accusations, including a 2012 groping allegation in Los Angeles.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
The prosecution’s theory was that Moseby started by flirting with students, then began groping them while disguising the action as legitimate help with cheer moves.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grope
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grope
Verb
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The attempt to create a viable and vibrant residential hub arrives after years of neglect and fumbled strategies by the prior owner, an affiliate of real estate firm Z&L Properties.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
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The Blue Demons’ guard panicked, fumbling the ball, and Fudd read her perfectly.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Republicans look poised to nominate their most radical, out-of-touch slate in our memory.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
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Minter has been patient and looked far and wide in assembling his first staff.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Hurzeler is probably safe for the rest of the season before a summer review of how things stand for a club with ambitions to build on reaching Europe for the first time in 2022-23 by competing regularly in the top half of the table and for their first domestic silverware.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Thus far, no claim has yet reached level 4.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grope.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grope. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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