1
as in grip
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 struggle
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 to wrestle
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 to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
a crane grappled the sunken boat and hoisted it above water
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of grapple
Tim Clouser | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Oct. 2024
As Jimmy grapples with the fact his mentor is gone, the opening credits kick off the final season's midpoint.
—EW.com, 2 Dec. 2024
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 18 Jan. 2025
This emotional novel about second chances follows Elliott Holland who is grappling with a leukemia diagnosis and decides to have one last hurrah before a stem cell transplant.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for grapple 
Noun
The expense comes as Spokane grapples with a general fund deficit of roughly $25 million and around $21 million in depleted reserves.
—Tim Clouser | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Oct. 2024
As Jimmy grapples with the fact his mentor is gone, the opening credits kick off the final season's midpoint.
—EW.com, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
Meanwhile, the Bruins, despite two straight wins against divisional opponents Tampa Bay and Florida, are grappling with the hard realities of their situation.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 18 Jan. 2025
This emotional novel about second chances follows Elliott Holland who is grappling with a leukemia diagnosis and decides to have one last hurrah before a stem cell transplant.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for grapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapple
Noun
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The corners of all three phones are rounded now—the Ultra is no longer boxy—though Samsung flattened the edges for a nicer grip.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
22 Jan. 2025
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Also complicating the mix is violence between an increasing number of Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, as well as raids by both Israeli security forces and the Palestinian Authority, which has a somewhat-weak grip on the larger of the two Palestinian territories.—
Ellie Cook,
Newsweek,
19 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Sly Stone's struggles with cocaine have been well documented, even, at times, eclipsing his achievements as an artist.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
24 Jan. 2025
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The film doesn’t paint him as a cautionary tale, treat him like a metaphor, or revel in the spectacle of his struggles.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Right-wing Trump fans like podcast host Joe Rogan and wrestling titan Dana White also enjoyed prime spots.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
20 Jan. 2025
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For decades, American women’s basketball players have wrestled with career decisions every winter: Stay home to recuperate, work on marketing deals and spend time with family or spend winters abroad in Russia, China, Turkey, Italy, Israel and Spain.—
Ben Pickman,
The Athletic,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Junior forward Lawrence Sallis also grabbed 13 rebounds for the Royals.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Jan. 2025
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The witness jumped in to assist and grab the knife, cutting himself in the process.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
25 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Cyber Skills Need To Match Modern Threats To keep pace with threats, cyber professionals must have a strong grasp on the tactics of today's bad actors and the proper measures to defend against them.—
Todd Moore,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
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Fubo, which is sports-focused with an emphasis on giving cord-cutters a way to watch their local teams, had argued Venu would have solidified those three networks’ grasp on sports broadcasts and create an uncompetitive market.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Personal battles Trump, who has been convicted by a jury of his peers and was indicted four times after his first term, referred to his legal troubles during his speech.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
20 Jan. 2025
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Meanwhile, more borrower-friendly regulations for the Borrower Defense to Repayment program remain stuck in a legal battle.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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There’s still a chance to catch this a poignant dramedy based on true events.—
Karu F. Daniels,
New York Daily News,
23 Jan. 2025
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But this week in Sydney, a city known for its beaches and vibrant food scene, crowds flocked to catch a glimpse — and a whiff — of a rare flower whose scent has been lovingly compared to that of rotting flesh.—
Max Butterworth,
NBC News,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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And the reality is that both presidents have limited options to put the ban on hold.—
Elizabeth Schulze,
ABC News,
16 Jan. 2025
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Out of the 33 analysts covering the biotechnology company, 16 have a strong buy or buy rating, while 14 have stepped to the sidelines with a hold rating.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near grapple
Cite this Entry
“Grapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapple. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
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