gripping

adjective

grip·​ping ˈgri-piŋ How to pronounce gripping (audio)
: 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
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.
Wednesday’s episode of The Amazing Race tested the teams’ patience like never before, delivering a gripping hour which included the season’s second double U-Turn and yet another surprising finish. Nick Caruso, TVLine, 16 Apr. 2025 In the gripping Prime Video action-thriller G20, family becomes both motivation and lifeline amid political mayhem. Okla Jones, Essence, 9 Apr. 2025 Starring Gyllenhaal in the lead role of chief deputy prosecutor Rusty Sabich, the series takes viewers on a gripping journey through the horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s office when one of its own is suspected of the crime. Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2025 With each episode lending itself to one hour of a single 15-hour shift, The Pitt has been a gripping 15-episode event that has had social media buzzing the last few weeks as more and more people have jumped on the train to see what everyone's talking about. Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gripping

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gripping was in 1896

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gripping.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gripping. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

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