grasp 1 of 2

grasp

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to understand
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4

Synonym Chooser

How is the word grasp different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of grasp are clutch, grab, seize, snatch, and take. While all these words mean "to get hold of by or as if by catching up with the hand," grasp stresses a laying hold so as to have firmly in possession.

grasp the handle and pull

When might clutch be a better fit than grasp?

The synonyms clutch and grasp are sometimes interchangeable, but clutch suggests avidity or anxiety in seizing or grasping and may imply less success in holding.

clutching her purse

How are the words grab and snatch related as synonyms of grasp?

Grab implies more roughness or rudeness than snatch.

grabbed roughly by the arm

When is it sensible to use seize instead of grasp?

While in some cases nearly identical to grasp, seize implies a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of something tangible or an apprehending of something fleeting or elusive when intangible.

seized the suspect

How do snatch and seize relate to one another, in the sense of grasp?

Snatch suggests more suddenness or quickness but less force than seize.

snatched a doughnut and ran

When could take be used to replace grasp?

While the synonyms take and grasp are close in meaning, take is a general term applicable to any manner of getting something into one's possession or control.

take some salad from the bowl

Examples of grasp in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
With her bold personality and a sharp grasp of social strategy from binge-watching every season of Survivor, she’s poised to outsmart her competition. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 10 Oct. 2024 To be certain, Republicans are still favored by most prognosticators to take the Senate this year, but even some GOP operatives conceded that aspirations of a tidal wave election may not be within their grasp. Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2024
Verb
Through a fantastical narrative, Noah presents a story that is simple enough for children to grasp but layered with meaning for parents to reflect on. Okla Jones, Essence, 24 Oct. 2024 After his 42-yard reception ended with the Cardinals offense on the field, Reagor, a 2020 first-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles, grasped the sides of his helmet with both hands in disbelief. Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for grasp 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grasp
Noun
  • And that means the offerings are not fully under Samsung’s control.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024
  • Such preparation is one of many ways players seek control over baseball’s defining anxieties.
    Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • The idea is that only by acquiring and using such data that other companies can challenge the grip of the technology giants, such as Google and Meta. CEO: C-suite news, analysis, and advice for top decision makers right to your inbox.
    Roger Trapp, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
  • The grip and knee strength tests used the participants’ dominant sides.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • That is to say, fiction should, to my mind, slightly eclipse the author’s own understanding of it.
    Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
  • Arnon Mishkin, the head of Fox News’ decision desk, told Axios last week that the network would do more to ensure its anchors and viewers have a clearer understanding of why races are being called.
    Hadas Gold, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • To understand how the suicides occurred, The New York Times and The Desert Sun interviewed dozens of people including current and former jail employees, relatives of the dead, independent medical examiners and civil rights lawyers.
    Christopher Damien, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024
  • Internet users were left a bit confused by the pup's unconventional way to find the perfect position, struggling to understand the process.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Both singers teared up as the hugged, and shared a few words not heard by the rest of the crowd.
    Zoe G. Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Oct. 2024
  • Family members in the gallery wept deeply and hugged one another as Circuit Judge David Swanson polled the jury.
    Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 23 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Most Milwaukee-area communities, including the city of Milwaukee, held trick-or-treat either this past Saturday or Sunday.
    Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2024
  • Seeing a comet holds magic For me there is little else that inspires such awe and wonder of the world -- and of life -- as celestial events.
    April Wallace, arkansasonline.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • The world wants to know: What kind of superpower will America be in the years to come?
    New York Times, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2024
  • To some, however, the unsolicited messages are not just annoying, but somewhat alarming because, in some cases, the senders — strangers — seem to know an awful lot of what seems like personal information.
    Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The key tax break is known as net unrealized appreciation, or NUA.
    Bob Carlson, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024
  • Over the last six months of working closely together, Kmet has gained a deep appreciation for the ways Williams invests in improvement — both for himself and the team.
    Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 26 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near grasp

Cite this Entry

“Grasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grasp. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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