GRAPPLED Synonyms: 87 Similar and Opposite Words

grappled

verb

past tense of grapple

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

Relevance

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

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 grappled Women seeking political office have long grappled with double standards around the demands of motherhood, with many waiting to seek office once their children were grown. — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 Iceland has grappled with persistently high inflation and rates that made mortgages punishingly expensive. — Reuters, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026 Iceland has grappled with high inflation and interest rates that have made mortgages expensive. — CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 As survivors grappled with the aftermath, criticism of the burials mounted. — ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026 In August 2026, the Cyrus family grappled with the loss of longtime friend and country music legend Dolly Parton. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 28 Aug. 2026 Blumberg and preservation One might imagine that a man nearing 90 and who was a prominent leader in hospitality has grappled with the issue of historic preservation. — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026 Lane was granted immunity from prosecution for his testimony against Adams, though Wright Stevens grappled with growing evidence that suggested Lane had prior run-ins with the Ipalook sisters and was at their home the night of the murders. — Mackenzie Farkus, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 2026 Down in the Keys, Dry Tortugas National Park has grappled with deteriorating historic masonry and failing dock systems, threatening the safety of tens of thousands of visitors who visit the park’s remote Fort Jefferson each year. — Lulu Vilas, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grappled

Verb

Hinduism itself has long wrestled with the question of how many gods there are, and different answers have been proposed throughout its history, but none of those answers necessarily invalidates the others.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
County officials — caught between a state legislative mandate to cooperate with ICE, a national mass deportation push that was filling their jail with detainees and a vocal electorate that demanded change — wrestled with how to respond.

— Mario Ariza, ProPublica, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of wrestled

Verb

The lawsuit by a Los Angeles studio claims Michael Shvartsman demanded early repayment, threatened its CEO and grabbed a bigger slice of profits after the film’s Mar-a-Lago premiere.

— Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
The man grabbed his iguana (which survived the flight) and left.

— Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of grabbed

Verb

Summit caught the turnover bug as the Jaguars lost to Red Oak 20-15.

— Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2026
As a result, Japan finds itself in a precarious position, caught between a lack of locals to fill roles in the workforce and a distrust of immigrants who can provide labor.

— Christine Miyawaki, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of caught

Verb

After the match, Kyle Fletcher snatched the International Championship belt.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
In September 2025, thieves snatched three porcelain works worth millions of dollars and classed as national treasures in a heist at the Adrien Dubouche National Museum in Limoges in central France.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of snatched

Verb

Mayer had some early success with her jab, but Cameron increasingly took control as the fight progressed and landed the cleaner punches before hurting Mayer with a right hand in the eighth round.

— Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Florida State was coming off a 13-1 season and landed DJ Uiagalelei out of the transfer portal at quarterback.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of landed

Verb

Its next evolution will be driven by the creation of new digital data generated from the physical world, captured through sensors, devices and systems deployed at a massive scale.

— Alper Yegin, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
The Israel Defense Forces captured Hamas' head of general security during a raid in Gaza, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said.

— Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of captured

Browse Nearby Words

grapple

grappled

grappled (with)

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“Grappled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grappled. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of grappled

verb

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