1
as in wrestling
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in grabbing
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
a crane grappled the sunken boat and hoisted it above water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grappling
The construction industry is currently grappling with a massive skills gap, struggling to recruit the next generation of engineers and project managers.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, some Christians in Miami, a place known for its cultural, religious and political diversity, are grappling with something of an identity crisis as the dispute puts their religious and political beliefs at odds.
—Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
The industry is grappling with these logistical hurdles against a backdrop of darkening economic sentiment.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 Apr. 2026
Countries around the world are grappling with higher fuel prices as a result of the Middle East conflict.
—Michael Considine, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grappling
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, some Christians in Miami, a place known for its cultural, religious and political diversity, are grappling with something of an identity crisis as the dispute puts their religious and political beliefs at odds.
—Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
The industry is grappling with these logistical hurdles against a backdrop of darkening economic sentiment.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 Apr. 2026
Countries around the world are grappling with higher fuel prices as a result of the Middle East conflict.
—Michael Considine, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grappling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grappling
Verb
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The Congress is not wrestling with big or important questions right now.—
Scott Pelley,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
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Document management doesn’t have to mean chasing down signatures or wrestling with clunky PDF tools.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Jaguars used their first pick of the NFL draft to land the blocking tight end Friday night, grabbing him in the second round with the 56th selection.—
Mark Long,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
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The Seahawks stayed put yet again at the end of the second round, grabbing TCU safety Bud Clark with the 64th pick.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Orange County fire officials said firefighters were fighting the blaze on the ground and from the air.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Viel also finished the game by fighting Podkolzin.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Chicago White Sox have been searching for offensive production from the catching position.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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Sophomore Nate Roberts is a 6-5, 240-pounder who has blocking experience and showed off versatility catching passes in the spring.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Joaquín Guzmán, a former leader of the Chapitos, confessed to the 2024 kidnapping of Zambada, snatching him at a meeting, flying him by private plane to the United States and handing him over to authorities.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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This adjustable, two-piece lanyard set helps reduce the chances of a passerby or someone speeding by on a scooter from snatching your phone.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Jaden McDaniels and the Minnesota Timberwolves flexed even more of their defensive muscle against the flagging Denver Nuggets, seizing a 2-1 lead in the first-round NBA playoff series with a dominant 113-96 victory on Thursday night.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
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Multiple videos show a masked federal agent seizing a 57-year-old woman, who says she was put in a chokehold, during the protest in Durango.—
Morgan Lee,
Denver Post,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Six years later, after months of military buildup in the Caribbean, the United States launched an unprecedented military operation in Venezuela, bombing Caracas and capturing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from the Presidential Palace.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
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From Edward Steichen to Annie Leibovitz, Vanity Fair has been capturing the greatest physical forms in sport, fitness, and dance for a century.—
Jonathan Pace,
Vanity Fair,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Plane tickets are getting pricier After jumping to $209 a barrel in early April, the global price of jet fuel eased last week to around $179, still well above the roughly $99 at the end of February.—
Mae Anderson,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
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Since getting sober, Holland's life has been a whirlwind.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grappling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grappling. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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