gripping

adjective

grip·​ping ˈgri-piŋ 

: 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

Examples of gripping in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The book is a towering achievement in Australian fiction, widely recognized as a classic of war literature and a work of national cultural importance — not to mention a gripping, psychologically complex read. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025

This isn’t a radical reworking of the formula established in Lotus' superb season 1, but season 3 is much more gripping than season 2. —Tom Gliatto, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025

As the score builds to a gripping mix of danger and allure, dark secrets reveal themselves then move swiftly to an unforgettable conclusion. —Georgia Rowe, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025

With its gripping narrative based on bestselling author Courtney Summers’ enthralling novel, ‘This Is Not a Test’ is perfectly positioned to captivate international audiences. —Alex Ritman, Variety, 4 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gripping

• chipping
• clipping
• dipping
• dripping
• flipping
• nipping
• ripping
• shipping
• sipping
• skipping
• slipping
• snipping