1
as in understood
to have a practical understanding of
he just doesn't grasp how important it is that he call when he'll be late
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hugged
to put one's arms around and press tightly
the departing soldier grasped his children a little closer than usual
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in held
to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms
the attendant grasped my arm and steered me towards the door
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in knew
to have a clear idea of
the emergency operator finally grasped what he was trying to tell her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grasped
When Chinese alchemists invented gunpowder in the ninth century, no one grasped the full range of its potential uses.
—
Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Finland grasped this eight years ago.
—Andrew Rasiej, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026
The problem is that the general medical community, beyond nephrologists, hasn’t really grasped the extent of the problem.
—Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Godoy only fully grasped the answer before shooting Season 2.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Marcus Smart and Austin Reaves earned a pair of technical fouls in the second quarter after Celtics small forward Jaylen Brown sent an elbow into Smart’s face on his way to the rim as Boston grasped a 36-33 lead.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 23 Feb. 2026
Few investors had heard of the World Wide Web, let alone grasped its commercial potential.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
Multiple responders then grasped the canine by the neck and back to lift it onboard, during which the dog could be heard slightly whimpering.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Smaller cowbells can be grasped and shaken by little hands.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Finland grasped this eight years ago.
—Andrew Rasiej, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026
The problem is that the general medical community, beyond nephrologists, hasn’t really grasped the extent of the problem.
—Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Godoy only fully grasped the answer before shooting Season 2.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Marcus Smart and Austin Reaves earned a pair of technical fouls in the second quarter after Celtics small forward Jaylen Brown sent an elbow into Smart’s face on his way to the rim as Boston grasped a 36-33 lead.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 23 Feb. 2026
Few investors had heard of the World Wide Web, let alone grasped its commercial potential.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
Multiple responders then grasped the canine by the neck and back to lift it onboard, during which the dog could be heard slightly whimpering.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Smaller cowbells can be grasped and shaken by little hands.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grasped
Verb
-
Stout, who has a doctorate in clinical psychology and has worked in the mental health field her entire career, understood what her uncle needed, and Hochheiser himself wasn’t shy.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In the ’90s and 2000s, under Senegalese presidents Abdou Diouf and Abdoulaye Wade, who extended Leopold Senghor’s vision of art as statecraft, Dak’Art benefited from government backing not just as a matter of policy but because these presidents understood that culture mattered.—
Smooth Nzewi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The couple hugged, burying their faces in each other’s shoulders.—
Justin Jouvenal,
Washington Post,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Hurley immediately threw his hands into the air in disbelief, hugged assistant coach Mike Nardi and paced the sideline with his suit jacket half off and his jaw dropped.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Jacir said many of those screenings opened eyes to a history many people never knew.—
Zach Dennis,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Badinter knew that debate-club arguments about deterrence and human-rights law and the possibility of judicial error would be ineffective.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As Keyla ran around the stage in a black dress adorned with crosses, Richie and Palmer clasped their hands in excitement.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Sitting in a back room at ExtraMile Arena last weekend, Miller clasped hands with old teammate Steve Barrett, who helped pull him to his feet after an hourlong interview with the Statesman.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Rex Heuermann, the man charged with seven of the Gilgo Beach murders that gripped Long Island, New York, is expected to plead guilty next month, according to a source.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Without rain in the forecast for the next seven days, the extreme drought that has gripped the Interstate 35 corridor, including the Austin metro area, parts of the Texas Hill Country and much of the region's watersheds is likely to not only persist but also intensify.—
Roberto Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The company expects a little more of an impact in its Q2, but Cook said it’s fully comprehended in the above Street outlook of 48% to 49%.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At their initial meeting, Ejection clung to the conviction that Chalker was a Mossad operative trying to lure him to his death.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Atallah walked to get a clearer view of the telltale plume of smoke indicating where a bomb or missile had hit; the whole way, Mohammad clung to Atallah’s leg.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grasped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grasped. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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