GRAPPLING Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

grappling

verb

Definition of grappling

present participle of grapple

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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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

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 grappling Many coastal communities are already grappling with the impacts of rising sea levels, like the coastal erosion eating away at the beach in San Clemente, California. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 While Europe is not currently grappling with outright shortages, global supplies are tight and prices have soared. — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026 Not only is the stock’s dividend payout less attractive in a environment with 5-year Treasury notes yielding 5%, Pepsi’s Frito-Lay snack business is grappling with more health-conscious consumers. — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026 Asian giants face looming graduate job crisis Asia’s most populous countries are grappling with a graduate employment crisis, with huge numbers of young people entering job markets that lack roles to absorb them. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026 North Central President Abiódún Gòkè-Paríolá said he was thrilled by the enrollment numbers, especially as colleges across the country are grappling with a declining high school graduate population. — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026 The rising popularity of the devices among children has left governments, and schools, in the region and across the nation grappling with how, and if, to regulate them. — Brian Bell, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026 In an interview conducted Friday by The Associated Press from outside Iran, Mohammadi said Iranians are grappling with multiple crises stemming from the ongoing war and deepening economic pressure. — Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026 In an interview conducted Friday by The Associated Press from outside Iran, Mohammadi said that Iranians are grappling with multiple crises stemming from the ongoing war and deepening economic pressure, and the brutal crackdowns on protests. — Amir-Hussein Radjy, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grappling

Verb

After five shootings in less than a week left at least 46 people dead, South Africa is wrestling with how to tackle a spike in gun crime that threatens to undo recent progress in reducing its notoriously high murder rate.

— Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Related Explore See latest videos, charts and news Set between about 1968 and 1980, McCartney starts on his isolated Scottish farm with his wife, Linda, and growing family, wrestling with what to do with his newfound freedom.

— Kristin Robinson, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of wrestling

Verb

The catalyst was a headline-grabbing second-quarter loss of $154 million that likely sent trading algorithms to hit the sell button.

— Harvey Stober, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Lopez then attacked Hager, grabbing his holster, and the two men fought over the deputy’s service weapon, according to the arrest report.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of grabbing

Verb

Yemeni government forces – backed by Saudi airstrikes and a blockade of Houthi areas – started fighting the Houthis more than a decade ago.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026
The Tigray Peace Force is fighting alongside federal troops against the TPLF.

— Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of fighting

Verb

Her complexion was lit-from-within radiant, with the warm pink pigment catching the light across the tops of her cheekbones.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 3 Oct. 2026
In 134 career games, Stewart rushed for 7,335 yards and 51 touchdowns while catching 162 passes for 1,295 yards and seven touchdowns.

— Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of catching

Verb

This speed can be boosted in systems like NGC 362D, in which a neutron star is snatching material from a donor star because that material carries with it angular momentum.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Not just college kids, but Others cheering for Texas’ football team and snatching up Texas’ degrees.

— Candace Buckner, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of snatching

Verb

Troop movements over the past couple of weeks indicate the group is concentrating on seizing the southwestern highlands, which could then open the way for a push toward the government’s capital, Aden.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
Counsel argued that seizing the ballots was necessary to preserve potential evidence before statutory destruction deadlines and to compare the total number of ballots with official vote records.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of seizing

Verb

And rather than just capturing a small snapshot of what's going on, the ultraviolet imager can continually observe the show for up to 45 hours at a time, revealing how the auroral oval changes as conditions in the solar wind change.

— Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Experts say flood maps need reform In many places, FEMA’s flood maps don’t do a good job of capturing the extent of severe flood risk.

— Michael Phillis, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of capturing

Verb

Kimmel asked, getting the scoop for the general public, whose curiosity about the wedding still lingers.

— Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2026
Of course, amid the rise of streaming movies in the home coming out of the pandemic, followed by the 2023 Los Angeles writers and actors strikes, getting film lovers back into the Cranford Theater remained a challenge.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2026