1
as in wrestled
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in grabbed
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
a crane grappled the sunken boat and hoisted it above water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 grappled
The high-stakes court battle centered on concerns that the mega-merger would add to the financial woes of consumers who have grappled with the rising cost of food.
—
Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
Kenya grappled with one of its worst floods in recent history, the latest in a string of weather catastrophes, following weeks of extreme rainfall that scientists linked to a changing climate.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2024
It’s grappled with an astronomical suicide rate, particularly among the male population, owing to socioeconomic factors.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 30 Nov. 2024
Moscow and Kyiv have both grappled with how to refill their exhausted ranks while avoiding deeply unpopular moves such as mobilization or further lowering conscription ages.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024
Shares in Disney have experienced volatility this year as the company contended with a proxy battle from numerous activists and grappled with ongoing challenges in many of its businesses.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 22 Nov. 2024
In the spring, the company grappled with an activist proxy fight led by Nelson Peltz.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Oct. 2024
Later, the board grappled with dissent from various members on when to repeal the mandate.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 19 Oct. 2024
His mom, Bea, lost her sight at the age of 7 and has grappled with the bleak unemployment rate of 70% that persists among the blind and visually impaired communities.
—Kody Boye, USA TODAY, 18 Oct. 2024
Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
Kenya grappled with one of its worst floods in recent history, the latest in a string of weather catastrophes, following weeks of extreme rainfall that scientists linked to a changing climate.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2024
It’s grappled with an astronomical suicide rate, particularly among the male population, owing to socioeconomic factors.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 30 Nov. 2024
Moscow and Kyiv have both grappled with how to refill their exhausted ranks while avoiding deeply unpopular moves such as mobilization or further lowering conscription ages.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024
Shares in Disney have experienced volatility this year as the company contended with a proxy battle from numerous activists and grappled with ongoing challenges in many of its businesses.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 22 Nov. 2024
In the spring, the company grappled with an activist proxy fight led by Nelson Peltz.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Oct. 2024
Later, the board grappled with dissent from various members on when to repeal the mandate.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 19 Oct. 2024
His mom, Bea, lost her sight at the age of 7 and has grappled with the bleak unemployment rate of 70% that persists among the blind and visually impaired communities.
—Kody Boye, USA TODAY, 18 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grappled
Verb
-
Penny grabbed him from behind in a headlock, wrestled him to the ground and held him with the help of another passenger.Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 3 Dec. 2024
-
Florida converted two of the miscues into 10 points while the other ended the Seminoles’ best drive when James wrestled away the ball from tailback Lawrance Toafili at the Gators’ 20 and UF leading 7-0.Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Murray grabbed his jacket and walked out again.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
-
Penny, a passenger on his way from a college class to the gym, grabbed Neely from behind in a chokehold, forced him to the train floor and restrained him there for several minutes.Eric Levenson, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The speed of change in Syria over the past week caught even those in the Middle East by surprise but with a stockpile of chemical and biological weapons at stake, many are calling for quick and decisive action from the West.Harriet Marsden, theweek, 11 Dec. 2024
-
Addison has caught 44-708-7 and has turned into a major big-play threat while Hockenson has caught 27-299-0 since coming back from last season’s knee injury.Steve Silverman, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Laboratory analysis also identified heroin among the drugs seized.Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 11 Dec. 2024
-
Then came the drive for reparations and restitution, which not only sought to compensate for the unimaginable suffering but also for the property seized by the Nazis.Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The brand’s French Terry Maven jumpsuit landed on Oprah’s Favorite Things list two years later during peak demand for comfort.Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 11 Dec. 2024
-
Underlining Saudi Arabia’s significant push into entertainment, news of its World Cup hosting landed during the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, only onto its 4th edition but already the biggest film event in the Gulf thanks to country’s deep pockets.Alex Ritman, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The Amanda Show actress posted a screenshot, captured by People, on November 5 that showed her efforts to get exercise by using a step counter.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
-
Themes of entrapment, unrequited love and loss penetrate the screen, with Lachman conveying the narrative through a bespoke aesthetic captured on different celluloid formats.Daron James, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near grappled
Cite this Entry
“Grappled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grappled. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share