as in grip
the act or manner of holding
she tried to maintain her tight handhold on the umbrella as the wind picked up
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Recent Examples of handhold
Instead of using natural handholds in the rock, via ferrata climbers move almost exclusively using artificial hardware drilled into the rock face, such as chains, cables, bridges, and ladders, and are attached to these fixtures via a tether and harness at all times.
—
Owen Clarke, Outside, 29 Sep. 2025
The entire playground has a spongy surface; there is specialized seating and handholds.
—Yadira Sanchez Olson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
Aesthetically, the two varieties are traditional, bulky grip handles that attach to either side of the handhold and the flap-out style that connect on only one side.
—New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2025
The current suits are also optimized for moving about in zero gravity using handholds, so their hip, waist, and knee joints aren’t particularly flexible.
—Rachel Courtland, IEEE Spectrum, 30 Sep. 2015
See All Example Sentences for handhold
Owen Clarke, Outside, 29 Sep. 2025
The entire playground has a spongy surface; there is specialized seating and handholds.
—Yadira Sanchez Olson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
Aesthetically, the two varieties are traditional, bulky grip handles that attach to either side of the handhold and the flap-out style that connect on only one side.
—New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2025
The current suits are also optimized for moving about in zero gravity using handholds, so their hip, waist, and knee joints aren’t particularly flexible.
—Rachel Courtland, IEEE Spectrum, 30 Sep. 2015
See All Example Sentences for handhold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handhold
Noun
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As paranoia festers and absurd regulations tighten their grip, suspicion replaces love, and truth itself begins to warp.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
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Either way, regulars are probably coming to grips with a glass-half-empty feeling.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The premium denim brand said Eram’s natural grasp of silhouette, construction, and overall attitude fits perfectly with Icon Denim’s vision of pushing denim beyond its traditional boundaries.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
24 Apr. 2026
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To wriggle out of Joseph’s grasp, Michael hires a brash young lawyer, John Branca, played by Miles Teller, who lends the coolly confident character a delightfully rough edge.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handhold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handhold. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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