as in control
the right or means to command or control others
the cult leader had such a death grip on his followers that all orders were carried out without the slightest objection
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Recent Examples of death grip
Detachment creates attachment The death grip on your goals is what's killing them.
—
Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Next, scientists will need to examine Cretaceous leaves for evidence of death grips to see if the prehistoric fungi had evolved to manipulate insects’ behavior during this time, says Jarzembowski in the statement.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 June 2025
After further assessment and some discussion, the team focused on the quad, which evidently had a death grip on Tichyque’s femur.
—Literary Hub, 7 May 2025
Alma clutched her arm and didn’t let go—a death grip.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for death grip
Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Next, scientists will need to examine Cretaceous leaves for evidence of death grips to see if the prehistoric fungi had evolved to manipulate insects’ behavior during this time, says Jarzembowski in the statement.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 June 2025
After further assessment and some discussion, the team focused on the quad, which evidently had a death grip on Tichyque’s femur.
—Literary Hub, 7 May 2025
Alma clutched her arm and didn’t let go—a death grip.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for death grip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for death grip
Noun
-
The public displays of control are happening amid an internal bureaucratic collapse.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
But the major goal of the flight, along with putting the Orion through its paces, is to test the planning, procedures and flight control protocols for managing upcoming moon landing missions after a half-century gap between the Artemis and Apollo programs.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In a social media post on Monday morning, Kuwait said a service building at a power generation and water desalination plant were damaged in an attack Sunday evening, killing one worker.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
-
In January, another Polymarket account won big by betting that Nicolás Maduro, the President of Venezuela, would soon be out of power.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Then comes along Hail Project Mary to upend the prevailing theory that the multiplex has become the dominion of sequels, threequels and endless franchise installments.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Mar. 2026
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Many key figures were associated with a movement known as the New Apostolic Reformation, which aims to establish Christian dominion over American society and government.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And yet, musically the drummer does follow the sway and groove of the vocalist as much as the vocalist follows the drummer.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Artists across the industry credit BTS with a canny international strategy that expanded K-culture’s global sway.—
Dan Bilefsky,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the wine room, a similar level of decadent drama reigns.—
Kathryn O’Shea-Evans,
Robb Report,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Western Michigan ended the Pios' reign last year at the Frozen Four, and now DU has paid the Broncos back as well.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Death grip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/death%20grip. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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