grapple 1 of 2

noun

ˈgra-pəl How to pronounce grapple (audio)
Definition of grapplenext
1
as in grip
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 struggle
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

grapple

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to wrestle
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

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2
as in to grab
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

Example 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 grapple
Noun
Aston Villa’s grapple with underlying metrics has been under the microscope all season. — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026 The jump in yields comes as Warsh, who was confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday, grapples with an increasingly complicated inflation picture. — Jeff Cox,hugh Leask,sean Conlon,lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 15 May 2026
Verb
Reading scores among high school seniors are at their lowest in decades, according to federal testing data, while schools across the country are grappling with how to respond to waning attention spans and artificial intelligence. — Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 Investors face growing exposure to tech companies grappling with escalating online child safety risks, a concern shared by 99% of Americans demanding stronger regulation. — Bhakti Mirchandani, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for grapple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grapple
  1. grip
  2. struggle
  3. wrestle
  4. grab
  5. grasp
  6. battle
  7. catch
  8. hold
Noun
  • The ring finger is typically slightly shorter than the middle finger, but the two work closely together, generating grip strength and stabilizing the hand.
    — Steven Lautzenheiser, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
  • There was bewilderment, also, at the failure of the referee to get any kind of grip or control over the Paraguayan antics.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of grip
Noun
  • Clifford was impressed with Acuff’s ability to play through his early struggles.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2026
  • Older students and professionals face an existential struggle to find a job, according to Yahya Alhamarna, a 24-year-old author displaced in Gaza City.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of struggle
Verb
  • Tempers flared late in the fourth quarter when Kings center Dylan Cardwell and Nets guard Egor Demin wrestled for a loose ball.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2026
  • Officials throughout the state have tried to wrestle with the gray area e-bikes occupy — faster than humans strolling on the greenbelt but not quite at the same level as cars and trucks.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 3 July 2026
Definition of wrestle
Verb
  • Schieffelin, who played football last season because had used up his basketball eligibility, used his bulky frame to grab eight rebounds on an 11-point night.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
  • Once the excitement had died down, the team gathered in a circle and a player went up to Haaland, grabbed the back of his neck and kissed his cheek.
    — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 6 July 2026
Definition of grab
Noun
  • In comparison, the Sparks, without an offensive rebound until the end of the third quarter, were forced to make perfect shots, though that was far from the team’s grasp.
    — Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • For much of the last six years, control has escaped the former top prospect’s grasp.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
Definition of grasp
Noun
  • True, nothing so grand as a massive dragon and naval battle took place, but seeing Rhaenyra start to change into someone almost unrecognizable from her younger, more innocent self was compelling in a deeper way.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • There have been naval battles and beheadings and aerial battles and, well, more beheadings.
    — Brian Grubb, Vulture, 6 July 2026
Definition of battle
Verb
  • One villager had been bitten and is being treated in hospital, while a dozen locals had formed a team to catch the snakes, the Hongxing report said.
    — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
  • But the rally ended when Hernández’s liner up the middle landed in the glove of Rockies right-hander Jimmy Herget, who just entered the game, catching Kyle Tucker off first base for a double play.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of catch
Noun
  • But the celebration was put on hold as officials reviewed the video, and the goal was nullified.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
  • But Enola’s wedding drama is put on hold when her brother (Henry Cavill) is kidnapped.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
Definition of hold

Phrases Containing grapple

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grapple
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Cite this Entry

“Grapple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grapple. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on grapple

Nglish: Translation of grapple for Spanish Speakers

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