1
as in wrestled
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
Relevance
2
as in grabbed
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
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grappled
This isn’t the first time Nvidia grappled with Hunger Games-like reception for its sophisticated Blackwell chips.
—
Byandrew Nusca, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2024
The crime-drama show picked up from its predecessor, Power, as Tariq grappled with killing his father and keeping his mother away from jail and out of harms way.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 4 Oct. 2024
The challenge of striking a balance between moving fast and having a good product is still a challenge that Sonos and other tech companies have grappled with throughout their history.
—Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
The absence of Otis and the other fat bear mainstays has been another difficult reality that fans have grappled with this year.
—Erin Donaghue, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Oct. 2024
Caravans of food, water and supplies were moving into western North Carolina on Monday as residents and local officials grappled with devastation never before seen in the region.
—Katie Peralta Soloff, Axios, 1 Oct. 2024
And just as so much of hip-hop has grappled (and continues to grapple) with the American dream and its dueling luster and infeasibility, so has Minaj throughout her career — both inside and outside of her music.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2024
Others grappled with the next steps.
—Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 30 Sep. 2024
As his onscreen grandson Tate (Leo Howard) grappled with his love interest Holly (Ashley Puzemis) finding out who was responsible for her father's death, Hogestyn's John offered Tate words of comfort and advice as the fate of his relationship hung in the balance.
—Esther Kang, People.com, 30 Sep. 2024
Byandrew Nusca, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2024
The crime-drama show picked up from its predecessor, Power, as Tariq grappled with killing his father and keeping his mother away from jail and out of harms way.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 4 Oct. 2024
The challenge of striking a balance between moving fast and having a good product is still a challenge that Sonos and other tech companies have grappled with throughout their history.
—Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
The absence of Otis and the other fat bear mainstays has been another difficult reality that fans have grappled with this year.
—Erin Donaghue, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Oct. 2024
Caravans of food, water and supplies were moving into western North Carolina on Monday as residents and local officials grappled with devastation never before seen in the region.
—Katie Peralta Soloff, Axios, 1 Oct. 2024
And just as so much of hip-hop has grappled (and continues to grapple) with the American dream and its dueling luster and infeasibility, so has Minaj throughout her career — both inside and outside of her music.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2024
Others grappled with the next steps.
—Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 30 Sep. 2024
As his onscreen grandson Tate (Leo Howard) grappled with his love interest Holly (Ashley Puzemis) finding out who was responsible for her father's death, Hogestyn's John offered Tate words of comfort and advice as the fate of his relationship hung in the balance.
—Esther Kang, People.com, 30 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grappled
Verb
-
In recent years, America's national parks have wrestled with unruly visitors and vandals who ignore rules meant to keep plants and wildlife safe, according to media reports.Louis Casiano, Fox News, 1 Oct. 2024
-
Officially, it was scored as a touchdown recovered by Baltimore fullback Patrick Ricard, who wrestled for the ball underneath a mound of bodies.NBC News, NBC News, 30 Sep. 2024
Verb
-
That formal change in Russia’s nuclear doctrine — which had previously envisioned a nuclear response only in the event of an existential threat to Russia — grabbed headlines and stirred a fresh round of debate in Western capitals.Simon Shuster, TIME, 3 Oct. 2024
-
And then Sol turned to me and grabbed my hand.Dalton Ross, EW.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
Alexander-Walker caught the pass, pumped, took a side dribble and fired.Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 16 Nov. 2024
-
Four players ran in touchdowns and Flynn Schiele and Nick Stone caught scoring passes as well.Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
The Justice Department seized 41 of the web domains, according to the FBI affidavit, and also granted Microsoft control of 66 additional domains the company said were part of the same operation.Kevin Collier, NBC News, 3 Oct. 2024
-
Hamas continues to hold dozens of hostages seized on October 7th and has not released the bodies of 39 more who are believed to have died in captivity.Matthew Carey, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
Learn about Lexington's airport before flying Blue Grass Airport Vice President of Marketing and Community Relations Amy Caudill told The Courier Journal that a business jet with six passengers and two crew members landed Friday morning, pulling into the runway safety area.Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 4 Oct. 2024
-
Those that landed did not cause significant damage.Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
Millard captured dummy’s king and led the jack, forcing South’s queen.Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
-
The incident captured by the surveillance camera shows Molaei without a hijab.Hannah Peart, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near grappled
Cite this Entry
“Grappled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grappled. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share