GRIPPED Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

gripped

verb

past tense of grip

as in clenched

to have or keep in one's hands gripped the handlebars tightly and raced down the hill

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in fascinated

to hold the attention of as if by a spell that true crime story gripped me as much as any whodunit

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as in interested

to hold the attention of that movie will grip any true sports car fan

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in grasped

to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms the baby gripped my fingers and wouldn't let go

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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 gripped The case has gripped Kenya since the discovery of the mass graves. — Jefferson Kahinju Reuters, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026 The Apology, written by Joe Murtagh (Say Nothing), follows Evelyn (Paltrow) and Caleb Amspoker whose son was murdered 18 years ago in a cold case that gripped the nation. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026 The Oscar winner will play Evelyn Amspoker, whose son was murdered 18 years ago in a cold case that gripped the nation. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026 On the microphone, his promos conveyed a no-nonsense intensity that equally gripped viewers. — Rudy Chinchilla, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026 The decision was a shocking twist in the high-profile case, which has gripped the public for years and sparked several true crime podcasts, books and documentaries. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026 At the time when Jackson’s remains were found, the West was gripped in severe drought. — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 As grief gripped the neighborhood, announcements broadcast over mosque loudspeakers urged residents to attend mass funeral prayers for those killed at the nearby Rehman Baba cemetery. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026 Others gripped plastic cups of golden beer and paper cups of Yorkshire tea. — Vanda Mayer, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gripped

Verb

Parents rushing to a reunification center, hearts clenched with the hope of finding their children among the survivors.

— Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
All of the grandeur and energy of Pollock’s looping brambles and cords are clenched in Krasner’s versions.

— Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of clenched

Verb

On a visit to the Bargello sculpture museum in Florence, Italy, a 3-year-old friend of mine was fascinated by its statues’ naked butts.

— Blake Gopnik, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2026
He’s always been obsessed with historic epochs like the Civil War and World War II and fascinated with the post-war boom and the sojourns of Route 66.

— Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of fascinated

Verb

In a first round that portended a lengthy and bloody fight, the Dodgers clutched to a 1-0 lead after three innings with ace Tarik Skubal on the mound and Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski headed for the showers.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
While in front of a judge, Siders, dressed in an orange jumpsuit, kept shielding her stomach and clutched her belly, The Daily Mail reported.

— Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of clutched

Verb

The boy was a soccer player who was enchanted by the idea of camping in the woods; Charlotte was bright and cheery, sometimes applying glitter to her father’s mustache.

— Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
My daughter was enchanted by the Balinese rice-on-the-forehead ritual for good fortune that is a part of the arrival, and the front desk staff happily indulged her request to do it again—multiple times a day.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of enchanted

Verb

Jason Oppenheim, the luxury real estate broker best known for his role on Selling Sunset, was intrigued by Pratt and Raman this election cycle.

— Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026
My 15-year-old daughter just got her learner’s permit, so when I was pitched a new gadget tailored to teen drivers, I was intrigued.

— Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of intrigued

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

Definition of held

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griping

gripped

gripping

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“Gripped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gripped. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of gripped

verb

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