1
as in grips
the act or manner of holding
was simply unable to break my opponent's viselike grapple and lost the wrestling match
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in struggles
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 wrestles
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 grabs
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
Example 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 grapples
Emma Rumney, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
Connecticut $281 per square foot $589,722 overall Connecticut also grapples with high land prices and a shortage of skilled labor, which inflates construction costs.
—Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 11 Mar. 2025
The public sector grapples with some of society’s most complex challenges—ranging from national security and healthcare to infrastructure management and climate change.
—Yuval Boger, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Still, the blockchain community grapples with persistent hurdles.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
As the market grapples with rising uncertainty and volatility, now is the time to turn to cheap stocks with strong growth potential, according to Citi Research.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2025
From the Munich Security Conference, Caitlin Chandler grapples with a world in which spending on weapons trumps all else.
—The Dial, 4 Mar. 2025
As the United States grapples with the fallout from the abrupt firings at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Europe has launched the Artificial Intelligence Forecasting System (AIFS).
—Jesse Damiani, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
This six-episode epic Italian political drama takes place amid the unification of 1860s Italy, as a Sicilian prince grapples with the collision between his family's ancient privilege and revolutionary change.
—Dana Feldman, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
The intensifying global trade war comes as the spirits industry grapples with a sharp downturn in sales following a post-COVID boom, and steep levies imposed by China on European brandy, hitting cognac especially.
—Emma Rumney, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
Connecticut $281 per square foot $589,722 overall Connecticut also grapples with high land prices and a shortage of skilled labor, which inflates construction costs.
—Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 11 Mar. 2025
The public sector grapples with some of society’s most complex challenges—ranging from national security and healthcare to infrastructure management and climate change.
—Yuval Boger, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Still, the blockchain community grapples with persistent hurdles.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
As the market grapples with rising uncertainty and volatility, now is the time to turn to cheap stocks with strong growth potential, according to Citi Research.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2025
From the Munich Security Conference, Caitlin Chandler grapples with a world in which spending on weapons trumps all else.
—The Dial, 4 Mar. 2025
As the United States grapples with the fallout from the abrupt firings at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Europe has launched the Artificial Intelligence Forecasting System (AIFS).
—Jesse Damiani, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
This six-episode epic Italian political drama takes place amid the unification of 1860s Italy, as a Sicilian prince grapples with the collision between his family's ancient privilege and revolutionary change.
—Dana Feldman, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapples
Verb
-
Vito, seething and remorseless, grabs at control relentlessly; Frank, in no mood to fight, tries to cede it graciously, resulting in a lopsided tug-of-war.—
Justin Chang,
The New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Curtis Rowe scores 19 points and Sidney Wicks adds 17 points and grabs 18 rebounds to lead UCLA to an 80-69 victory over Jacksonville for its fourth consecutive NCAA basketball championship.—
Austin Knoblauch,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Following a division in season guarantees drama and the playoffs, and the AFC North — with the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns — showcases bitter rivalries that make for good TV.—
Matt Brennan,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Jan. 2025
-
Of course, some people thrive on rivalries with others—think Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, or Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.—
Matt Fuchs,
TIME,
2 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The scene captures the essence of a property that opened with grand ambitions but now finds itself on the selling block.—
Jackie Snow,
Quartz,
15 Mar. 2025
-
But when Lynch’s camera captures them in the vehicle’s back seat, the wholesome mood suddenly shifts.—
Naomi Fry,
The New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
López’s next turn in the rotation lands Sunday against Detroit.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
-
After being gifted with a wide receiver in Xavier Worthy after a trade up in last year's NFL draft, in this mock, the team somehow lands Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Israel says most of these are militants, but youths throwing stones and people not involved in confrontations have also been killed.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Jan. 2025
-
There were a couple of confrontations when the game got heated in the fourth quarter, but the Kings wouldn’t back down.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacramento Bee,
4 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grapples.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapples. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share