Synonyms of grappled

grappled

verb

past tense of grapple

1

as in wrestled

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

• wrestled
• fought
• tussled
• scuffled
• battled
• brawled
• contended
• combated
• rassled
• punched
• struck
• buffeted
• dueled
• hit
• sparred
• battered
• slugged
• skirmished
• clashed (with)
• bashed
• warred (against)
• boxed
• beat

2

as in grabbed

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

• grabbed
• caught
• seized
• snatched
• landed
• captured
• trapped
• got
• snared
• rapped
• snagged
• nailed
• corralled
• hooked
• netted
• copped
• nabbed
• grasped
• snapped (up)
• bagged
• clutched
• collared
• took hold (of)
• held
• nobbled
• glommed
• gripped
• arrested
• roped
• apprehended
• clasped
• gloved
• secured
• cornered
• detained
• lassoed
• enmeshed
• ensnared
• entangled
• fisted
• wrested
• fastened (on)
• kidnapped
• meshed
• latched (on or onto)
• entrapped
• haltered
• abducted
• bayed
• rent
• spirited (away or off)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• missed
• released
• discharged
• freed
• liberated
• dropped
• loosened
• unhanded

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of grappled

While the university grappled with yet another football scandal, an Ann Arbor moving crew simply got to work—sorting, packing and hauling away the remnants of a fallen career, one item at a time, over the span of six hours. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Washington — The Supreme Court on Monday grappled with a complex dispute involving an effort by the city and county of Boulder, Colorado, to hold energy companies accountable for the effects of global climate change. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

The Supreme Court grappled Monday with whether local governments can sue oil and gas companies in state court to help cover costs associated with climate change, an issue with potentially billions of dollars at stake. — Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026

After a passenger grabbed the copilot and pulled him out, and others grappled with the man to subdue him, Schlichter said that one of the traveling pilots practically hurtled the scrum to enter the cockpit and seize the controls. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

In recent years, Pandora has grappled with headwinds including sluggish demand across core markets, an overreliance on single product categories, and volatile precious metal input costs. — CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

Satterley grappled with his insecurities on the podcast but concluded that insecurities are part of human nature and that sharing them with the world could ultimately be a force for good. — Rudy Chinchilla, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026

Shelford addressed the deckhand’s absence during the episode as his crew grappled with a series of setbacks. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026

Ever since, numerous experts have grappled with this scenario. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 24 Sep. 2026