1
as in grips
the act or manner of holding
was simply unable to break my opponent's viselike grapple and lost the wrestling match
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in struggles
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
after a grapple with his conscience, he confessed to having an affair
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in wrestles
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
2
as in grabs
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
a crane grappled the sunken boat and hoisted it above water
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of grapples
Lauren Sausser and Holly K. Hacker, The Tennessean, 30 Dec. 2024
Two additional flights nearly ended in tragedy over the weekend as South Korea grapples with its worst plane crash in decades.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 30 Dec. 2024
Secondly, as the world grapples with these crises, a trust deficit has emerged between Europe and its partners, particularly Africa.
—Michael Sheldrick, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024
Uncertain but Unified Future for Korea’s Year-End Celebrations As the country and entertainment industry grapples with the tragedy, the status of major year-end events remains uncertain.
—Jeff Benjamin, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024
The movie also grapples with the insidious nature of domestic violence and cycles of abuse across generations.
—Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 23 Dec. 2024
Below the surface, the film grapples with disturbing patterns of domestic abuse.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2024
Poverty is widespread, and more than half of the population currently grapples with food insecurity.
—Farrah Hassen, Sun Sentinel, 22 Dec. 2024
But the movie also grapples with the insidious nature of domestic violence and cycles of abuse across generations.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024
Verb
As this Appalachian town grapples with the loss of its hospital, which was destroyed by floodwaters during Hurricane Helene, a KFF Health News analysis has identified about 20 across the state built on or near flood plains.
—Lauren Sausser and Holly K. Hacker, The Tennessean, 30 Dec. 2024
Two additional flights nearly ended in tragedy over the weekend as South Korea grapples with its worst plane crash in decades.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 30 Dec. 2024
Secondly, as the world grapples with these crises, a trust deficit has emerged between Europe and its partners, particularly Africa.
—Michael Sheldrick, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024
Uncertain but Unified Future for Korea’s Year-End Celebrations As the country and entertainment industry grapples with the tragedy, the status of major year-end events remains uncertain.
—Jeff Benjamin, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024
The movie also grapples with the insidious nature of domestic violence and cycles of abuse across generations.
—Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 23 Dec. 2024
Below the surface, the film grapples with disturbing patterns of domestic abuse.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2024
Poverty is widespread, and more than half of the population currently grapples with food insecurity.
—Farrah Hassen, Sun Sentinel, 22 Dec. 2024
But the movie also grapples with the insidious nature of domestic violence and cycles of abuse across generations.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapples
Verb
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Whichever item the baby grabs is thought to predict their future.Regina Kim, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
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For example, if the child grabs money, that could be an indicator of future wealth.Regina Kim, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Following a division in season guarantees drama and the playoffs, and the AFC North — with the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns — showcases bitter rivalries that make for good TV.Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2025
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Of course, some people thrive on rivalries with others—think Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, or Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.Matt Fuchs, TIME, 2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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That is to say, Pinterest captures a wealth of data and culturally translates it into something more meaningful.Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
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Justin Jefferson Every year, without fail, there is a breakout athlete who captures the attention of the fashion world—and 2024 was football star Justin Jefferson’s time to shine.Christian Allaire, Vogue, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
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There are no age restrictions, and guests can choose from a 30-minute adventure or a 60-minute one that lands on the ice for a bit of easy on-foot exploration.Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Jan. 2025
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Expect a trade, possibly a deal that lands a long-term solution.Allan Mitchell, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
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There were a couple of confrontations when the game got heated in the fourth quarter, but the Kings wouldn’t back down.Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 4 Jan. 2025
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Israel says most of these are militants, but youths throwing stones and people not involved in confrontations have also been killed.Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near grapples
Cite this Entry
“Grapples.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapples. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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