gripping

1 of 2

adjective

grip·​ping ˈgri-piŋ How to pronounce gripping (audio)
Synonyms of grippingnext
: taking a powerful hold upon one's interest or feelings
a gripping thriller
Shabba Ranks has a gripping baritone voice that ranges from bedroom purr to locker-room-boast roar.—Mark Coleman
grippingly adverb
a grippingly honest performance

gripping

2 of 2

present participle of grip entry 1

Examples of gripping in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
While sections pertaining to the house itself are both gripping and eerie (rooms flood, tiles rearrange, visions flicker), the real terror comes from human history. — Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Dolly Parton & Pentatonix Though the 1973 original didn’t score a Grammy despite its two nominations, this gripping collaboration between the queen of country and the a cappella band Pentatonix nabbed the song a trophy in 2017. — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026 MobLand is a gripping crime drama with an all-star cast, featuring Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza, a problem solver for London's Harrigan crime family. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026 Like Seven and Panic Room, Zodiac is a gripping, grimy crime story filled with intense performances and slick cinematography. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gripping

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gripping was in 1896

Rhymes for gripping

See All Rhymes for gripping

Browse Nearby Words

grippiness
gripping
grippit
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gripping.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gripping. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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