death grip

noun

Definition of death gripnext
as in control
the right or means to command or control others the cult leader had such a death grip on his followers that all orders were carried out without the slightest objection

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 death grip Nostalgia has a death grip on the video game industry, so there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical about Campaign Evolved. — Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025 The stagnant offense of his death grip dragged its way into a final-drive game, eerily similar to when Florida faced USF weeks ago, kicking off this saga. — Noah White, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025 As in give it up, let go, release the death grip. — Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025 Across genres and styles, new books must maintain a death grip on the reader’s attention, fearful of losing it to the many readily accessible distractions lying at most one foot from the book itself. — Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for death grip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for death grip
  1. control
  2. power
  3. dominion
  4. sway
  5. reign
Noun
  • Heading into the midterm elections, AI now ranks as a key issue in races that will help decide control of both chambers of Congress.
    — Jeff Masonand Michael Shepard Bloomberg, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Precise attitude control keeps those instruments pointed at their targets as the satellites race around Earth.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of control
Noun
  • State agencies, including the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security, have helped local officials with damage assessments and power restoration, among other tasks.
    — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Its inclusion in the corridors of power is characteristic of the 52-year-old executive, whom colleagues describe as committed, charismatic and down-to-earth.
    — Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of power
Noun
  • Faced with the dominion of the identical copy, some modern artists chose to celebrate it; others took a more critical, even antagonistic stance.
    — Mario Carpo, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Propelling themselves through the 00s, iconic franchises continued to thrive with both Star Wars and Star Trek maintaining their dominion over sci-fi cinema.
    — Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of dominion
Noun
  • The story plays out in New York’s cutthroat acting scene, where a talented Indian actor chasing his craft falls under the sway of Keitel’s teacher.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
  • As Béatrice’s amateur detective work pulls her in deeper, the strands begin to suggest a conspiracy, one marked by mysterious disappearances and the clandestine sway of the Vatican.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of sway
Noun
  • With Dyer now in WWE and a former WWE United States champion almost immediately upon his return there, Dijak looked back on his reign with the competitor fondly.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • British architect Francis Rattenbury designed the chateau-style Empress—named after Queen Victoria, also the Empress of India during the last part of her reign—which started construction in 1904 and opened in 1908.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of reign

Browse Nearby Words

deathblows
death grip
death grips
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Death grip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/death%20grip. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All