grips 1 of 2

noun

plural of grip
1
as in suitcases
a bag carried by hand and designed to hold a traveler's clothing and personal articles she placed her grip in the train's overhead rack and seated herself comfortably

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2
as in grasps
the act or manner of holding get a better grip on the lid and try to open the jar again

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3
as in understandings
the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something he has a good grip on basic Spanish grammar and spelling

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4
as in controls
the right or means to command or control others a tyrant that keeps the masses tightly in his grip

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5
as in handles
a part by which an implement is held bought new pots with heat-resistant grips

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grips

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of grip
1
as in clutches
to have or keep in one's hands gripped the handlebars tightly and raced down the hill

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2
as in fascinates
to hold the attention of as if by a spell that true crime story gripped me as much as any whodunit

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3
as in interests
to hold the attention of that movie will grip any true sports car fan

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4
as in holds
to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms the baby gripped my fingers and wouldn't let go

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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 grips
Noun
From silicone grips that help prevent slipping to stretchy bands that move with you, these bras are made for off-the-shoulder tops, strapless dresses, halter tops, and more. — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026 Although climate scientists warned in the nineteen-eighties that extreme heat posed a growing danger, policymakers in Europe didn’t come to grips with it until August, 2003, when a heat wave killed more than seventy thousand people. — Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 Economic ‘death zone’ Such measures fail to get to grips with the sheer scale of the problem, said Mathias Brüggmann in Die Tageszeitung (Berlin). — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 15 Aug. 2026 Seen together, the trilogy charts both a personal coming-of-age and a generational coming-to-grips with aging that, even when compared against similar serialized documentary experiments like Michael Apted’s 7 Up installments, feels wholly unique. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2026 But unlike the previous gen, the Stand has a stand unlike most other magnet grips on the market. — Sean Hollister, The Verge, 15 Aug. 2026 Supporters argue that film incentives contribute to the economy at large, not just subsidize the salaries of local grips, gaffers and camera and lighting operators. — Brent Lang, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026 Some industry analysts have suggested that the tech industry will soon come to grips with the cost and complexity of building private grids to meet the 24/7 power needs of data centers and will abandon the projects currently underway. — John Kostyack, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 As Europe comes to grips with its fifth heat wave of the year, the research arm of Swiss Re AG is warning of far-reaching consequences. — Bloomberg, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
The Mercyenforcer grips the handle of his light in his bare hand to look into my other eye. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026 New Orleans is facing an unusual weather combination as Tropical Storm Bertha moves along the northern Gulf Coast while dangerous heat grips the region. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 22 July 2026 Your makeup will only look as good as your base, and the hydrating formula leaves a beautiful, glowy canvas that grips onto foundation and prevents makeup from settling into fine lines. — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 8 July 2026 Together with slight pressure from your foot, the claw head and pedal penetrates soil, grips the weed, and pulls it straight out of the ground from its roots. — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 18 June 2026 In one example, the robot grips a can sideways, a simple mistake that could lead to spills, showing that human-like understanding remains limited. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 Apr. 2026 Fast forward to today and those fears have materialized with dizzying speed as a historic oil and gas crisis sparked by the US and Israel’s war with Iran grips the world. — John Liu, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026 This shoe is also outfitted with a high-traction outsole that effectively grips the ground for a stable landing every time. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2026 DeepSeek, the Chinese AI startup challenging the leaders of Silicon Valley, posted a cluster of job openings for specialists in agentic artificial intelligence and other positions, as enthusiasm for the technology that can carry out tasks without human intervention grips China. — Saritha Rai, Bloomberg, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grips
  1. suitcases
  2. grasps
  3. understandings
  4. controls
  5. handles
  6. clutches
  7. fascinates
  8. interests
Noun
  • Paintings, artwork, sculptures, stamps, statuary, other collector’s pieces (such as pieces of archaeology), as well as antiques older than 100 years but not over 250 years old are listed, as are suitcases, trunks, vanities and other types of bags.
    — Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Check-ins and check-outs of guests with suitcases continue unabated in the busy lobby.
    — Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of suitcases
Noun
  • Through universal intelligent manipulation, the robot autonomously plans grasps, adjusts force in real time, and navigates obstacles using seamless hand–eye coordination.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 13 Jan. 2026
  • The Hurricanes needed that to happen after the game nearly slipped out of their grasps.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2025
Definition of grasps
Noun
  • One-on-one, face-to-face discussions trigger key interpretive understandings that are authentic to each stakeholder.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Their speculations, although deemed inaccurate by later historians, helped shape popular understandings of the ancient druids.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of understandings
Noun
  • If those systems contain weak authorization controls, capable agents may find them.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The steering-wheel controls return to tactile thumbwheels rather than the touch-sensitive arrangement that was, to put it politely, a solution in search of a problem.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of controls
Noun
  • This sophisticated serving tray gets a whimsical twist with the addition of squiggly handles.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Use a disinfecting spray and a rag to wipe down all hard surfaces, including the handles, zippers, the bottom, and lastly, the wheels.
    — Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of handles
Verb
  • Anna practically clutches her pearls when asked to help the homeless.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
  • For years, Guerin has held onto his veteran core like a grandmother clutches her third-generation pearls.
    — Michael Russo, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of clutches
Verb
  • Yet, what fascinates is that Aristotle’s God isn’t a typical divine being who summons and shepherds.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, what fascinates aspiring neurologist Makenzie Stovall is the idea that AI is trying to emulate the brain — an organ whose inner workings continue to leave researchers dumbfounded.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of fascinates
Verb
  • With your sisters Kim and Kylie breaking into the acting world over the last couple of years, with American Horror Story, All’s Fair and The Moment, is acting something that still interests you?
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026
  • There’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting to talk about what interests him, in the right context.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of interests

Phrases Containing grips

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gripping
grips
grisette
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Cite this Entry

“Grips.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grips. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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