grappling

[grap-ling] / ˈgræp lɪŋ /

VERB

grab, wrestle

Synonyms

STRONGEST

confront contend cope deal with

STRONG

attack battle catch clash clasp close clutch combat encounter engage face fasten fight grasp grip hold hook hug nab nail scuffle seize snatch struggle tackle take tussle

WEAK

do battle take on

Antonyms

STRONG

agree avoid be immune cancel disconnect dodge free give idle let go liberate lose make peace misunderstand offer open receive refuse reject release retreat run stop support surrender unfasten unlock yield

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They seemed to be genuinely grappling with the administration’s arguments about why the long-accepted understanding of the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause is wrong.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Strategy Inc., the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, may be grappling with the same question.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

“Markest are grappling with the fact that they expected this to be over on short order.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

At UCLA, Chicana/o and Central American Studies faculty are grappling with how to present Chávez’s influence on social movements after they voted to cut his name from the department title.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

He looked back and saw the old man and the bantam policeman grappling beneath the department store clock.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole