CLASPED Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

clasped

verb

past tense of clasp

as in hugged

to put one's arms around and press tightly clasped his long-lost sister and cried without restraint

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in held

to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms clasped a crayon and began drawing

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 clasped The new mothers clasped their babies close as a pack of teenagers ran through the park. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026 In 1975, as Cold War tensions thawed, an American commander and his Soviet counterpart clasped hands in space after their spacecraft docked. — Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2026 This gadget from the comics is typically depicted as a metal collar clasped around a mutant’s neck. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 31 July 2026 Unlike Hernandez, all of his digits remained intact, clasped together on the table. — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 22 July 2026 But here was Bobby, sitting at Jackie’s bedside, perhaps looking at the ground, one wrist clasped in his hand. — Literary Hub, 17 July 2026 Shocked, audience members clasped their hands to their mouths as Gordon described how the increasing physical attacks on judges have changed their lives and affected their families. — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 11 July 2026 The study, like the seven-and-a half-foot-tall finished painting, shows King Charles head on, in a Welsh Guards uniform, with his hands clasped in front of his waist resting on a sword. — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 9 July 2026 As the service began, it was clasped shut. — Bracey Harris, NBC news, 28 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for clasped

Verb

Her other son, Hudson, could be seen smiling as Brayden hugged him.

— Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026
Mills was crowned the winner and the teammates hugged out their differences.

— PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of hugged

Verb

The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.

— Daniel S. Levine, People.com, 6 Aug. 2025
That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.

— Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 6 Aug. 2025

Definition of held

Verb

One man desperately clung to a light pole in Cambridge City as muddy, brown water swirled around him, before he was eventually rescued.

— Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Construction workers clung to a malfunctioning crane Friday as its arm collapsed onto the pool deck of a neighboring luxury high-rise in Miami, video shot by a bystander showed.

— James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of clung

Verb

Ashton Daniels, who started his career at Stanford and then appeared in four games at Auburn last season, has quickly grasped the offense, according to every testimonial delivered by teammates and FSU offensive coaches since the spring.

— Andre C. Fernandez, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026
By the Monitor's Editorial Board Five years ago this month, as the last United States forces withdrew from Afghanistan, the Taliban grasped the reins of government and have kept a tight hold on them since.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of grasped

Verb

Man City was already a big TV draw before America was gripped by Haalandmania, as is evidenced by the club’s April 19 clash with Arsenal.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Under the shadow of a red Force Recon Association hat and tinted glasses, Capers’ eyes wore a hardened look that made no effort to hide the darkness and despair that gripped him at that moment.

— Ethan Rocke, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of gripped

Verb

Ford took one final adventure as the legendary character under the direction of James Mangold with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

— Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Their 34-10 win over the Browns on Saturday at Soldier Field included 34 unanswered points after Cleveland took a 10-0 lead.

— Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of took

Browse Nearby Words

clasp

clasped

clasping

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Clasped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clasped. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of clasped

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on clasped

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

august

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes