grapple 1 of 2

noun

ˈgra-pəl How to pronounce grapple (audio)
Definition of grapplenext
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

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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

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grapple

2 of 2

verb

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

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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

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 grapple
Noun
Engineers will equip it with specialized tools, including grapples, cutters, and buckets. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Apr. 2026 The script called for her character to throw a wine glass toward Isaac’s head, escalating things into a grapple with a golf club. — Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
Then there are competitors in China, where Nvidia is grappling with trade restrictions. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026 Still, crossing six figures is a symbolic milestone for an industry already grappling with questions about affordability and whether a college degree is worth getting. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapple
  1. grip
  2. struggle
  3. wrestle
  4. grab
  5. grasp
  6. battle
  7. catch
  8. hold
Noun
  • That's pretty darn cool for people getting to grips with the latest generation of robotics programming tools and training systems.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 31 Aug. 2026
  • As Russia’s war in Ukraine becomes increasingly costly with no end in sight, the Kremlin has kept tightening its grip over Russian society.
    — Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of grip
Noun
  • While Craig will get most of the attention, TCU’s revamped offensive line also had its struggles throughout the day.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Those struggles have become increasingly difficult for the Blue Jays to ignore as the season has progressed.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of struggle
Verb
  • But the Young Bucks have been a dominant force in tag team wrestling for years.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Hinduism itself has long wrestled with the question of how many gods there are, and different answers have been proposed throughout its history, but none of those answers necessarily invalidates the others.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of wrestle
Verb
  • Mishka Wilonski had just grabbed pizza from a nearby shop and was walking outside with a friend when the crash happened.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Michael grabbed him, rushed out of the house, and blew through several red lights on the way to the hospital.
    — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of grab
Noun
  • The Wall Street Journal's Jason Zweig, who has a comprehensive grasp of financial history and a deft touch for illuminating it, explores the echoes here.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • But their rookie linebacker extended his arms, threw out a hand and knocked the ball free from London’s grasp.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of grasp
Noun
  • The only intrigue at offensive line was the backup center battle between Hudson and Patrick.
    — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Naturally, with three more Salt Lake City wives at the Alter Ego Party, Gizelle is ready to further investigate why Lisa is in a battle with her whole cast.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of battle
Verb
  • Salas, 20, should soon become the youngest player to catch a big-league game since Ivan Rodriguez debuted with the Texas Rangers in 1991.
    — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Fortunately, one of the most sensitive detectors ever constructed was buried there to catch that fleeting glow and record the neutrinos’ ghostly presence.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of catch
Noun
  • Harris, making just his eighth career appearance, set the tone by pitching two perfect innings with two strikeouts to record his second career hold.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Only seven people were identified as having an ICE hold, meaning ICE had already identified them for potential deportation.
    — Rachel Spacek, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of hold

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Cite this Entry

“Grapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapple. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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