Thesaurus results for GROPING

groping

verb

present participle of grope

as in fumbling

to search for something blindly or uncertainly she groped in her purse for her car keys groping for the right answer

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 groping Edgar Avalos was arrested in connection with a series of groping incidents earlier this year in Tracy, police said. — Brandon Downs, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 Quaylin Wesley, 27, of Oakland and Vallejo, has been charged with 10 felonies for allegedly going into the girl’s room repeatedly on the night of June 13 and groping her, forcing her to touch him, and attempting to sodomize her, prosecutors say. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026 Gooding has been accused of groping dozens of women and pleaded guilty to one count of forcible touching in 2022. — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026 Franken fake-groped a sleeping woman as a joke, and was then credibly accused of groping numerous women for real. — Katha Pollitt, Washington Post, 10 July 2026 The abuse included groping and fondling of the students’ genitals and other acts under the guise of a medical examination. — CNN Money, 4 June 2026 The abuse included groping and fondling of the students' genitals and other acts under the guise of a medical examination. — Jasper Ward, USA Today, 4 June 2026 Tajul Islam, 55, is accused of groping and molesting the victims inside Masjid Bilal Queens on Sutphin Blvd. — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026 After literally years of groping around in the dark, Brazil do, at least, have the makings of a plan under Ancelotti. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for groping

Verb

The Packers’ offense left the field, but came back after it was ruled that Watson was down before fumbling.

— Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Here was his senior running back, who scored a 44-yard touchdown in their state championship win months earlier, fumbling on the very first play of the Blue-White scrimmage.

— Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of fumbling

Verb

Procapil brings biotinoyl tripeptide-1 together with botanical ingredients that help fortify follicles and anchor hair at the root, while Capixyl combines acetyl tetrapeptide-3 with red clover extract for stronger, denser-looking hair.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Aug. 2026
Just when things are looking dire for John and Sarah, the T-800 reboots on auxiliary power and shoots the T-1000 with a grenade launcher.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of looking

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gropes

groping

gross

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“Groping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/groping. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of groping

verb

Example Sentences

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