gropes

verb

present tense third-person singular of grope
as in fumbles
to search for something blindly or uncertainly she groped in her purse for her car keys groping for the right answer

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 gropes In the video, a woman exposes herself and an officer, identified by investigators as Herman, gropes her, police said in a statement last year. — Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gropes
  1. fumbles
  2. looks
  3. reaches
Verb
  • So the associate who fumbles a membership conversation doesn’t need a lecture.
    — Zaharia-Gabriel Sidere, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • DeLand was driving inside the 20 yard line and Taihj Moore fumbles, recovered by Lake Mary.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of fumbles
Verb
  • The gorgeous and tasty caramel and cream cheese frosting looks the best when applied with a small offset spatula to give it that swirly effect on the cake.
    — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Be suspicious of unexpected statement links Even when an email looks authentic, use the SSA website independently to access your information.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of looks
Verb
  • If his lead reaches the magic number of 125 this weekend, nobody will be able mathematically to catch him for the rest of the season.
    — Sahil Kapur, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Carpenter is hoping the investment reaches beyond the plant and gives more people in Braddock a chance to get ahead.
    — Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of reaches

Browse Nearby Words

groped
gropes
groping
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Cite this Entry

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

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