grapple

[ grap-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, grap·pled, grap·pling.

1. to hold or make fast to something, as with a grapple.
2. to use a grapple.
3. to seize another, or each other, in a firm grip, as in wrestling; clinch.
4. to engage in a struggle or close encounter (usually followed by with ):

   He was grappling with a boy twice his size.

5. to try to overcome or deal (usually followed by with ):

   to grapple with a problem.

   Synonyms: tussle, cope, wrestle, contend, struggle

verb (used with object)

, grap·pled, grap·pling.

1. to seize, hold, or fasten with or as with a grapple.
2. to seize in a grip, take hold of:

   The thug grappled him around the neck.

noun

1. a hook or an iron instrument by which one thing, as a ship, fastens onto another; grapnel.
2. a seizing or gripping.
3. a grip or close hold in wrestling or hand-to-hand fighting.
4. a close, hand-to-hand fight.

grapple

/ ˈɡræpəl /

verb

1. to come to grips with (one or more persons), esp to struggle in hand-to-hand combat
2. intrfoll bywith to cope or contend

   to grapple with a financial problem

3. tr to secure with a grapple

noun

1. any form of hook or metal instrument by which something is secured, such as a grapnel
2. 1. the act of gripping or seizing, as in wrestling
   2. a grip or hold
3. a contest of grappling, esp a wrestling match

Derived Forms

• ˈgrappler, noun

Other Words From

• grappler noun
• inter·grapple verb intergrappled intergrappling
• un·grappled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of grapple¹

1520–30; apparently a frequentative of Old English gegrǣppian to seize; associated with grapnel

Word History and Origins

Origin of grapple¹

C16: from Old French grappelle a little hook, from grape hook; see grapnel

Example Sentences

Those two lines cross, and slide up one another, and then there’s a grapple and capture.

From Singularity Hub 

Even the newest and most important addition to his arsenal, a grapple hook that lets you rocket toward and swing around structures, mountains, and enemies like you’re some sort of gun-toting Spider-Man, is derivative, and not that intuitive to use.

From Time

In hindsight, like many who suffer from eating disorders, it was a misguided and desperate grapple for control at a time when the great themes of my life were in chaos.

From Outside Online

The White House, however, does not grapple with the essentiality of good ground forces now.

From The Daily Beast

In Ferguson and many towns like it, majority African-American communities most grapple with mostly white county governments.

From The Daily Beast

I believe that there are evil acts, and I grapple with the idea of whether you can call people evil.

From The Daily Beast

The slice of society he depicts is narrow, but its denizens grapple with the universal basics: family, mortality, love, ambition.

From The Daily Beast

For the fourth year running, the ICA has had to grapple with the complexities of coordinating a group show.

From The Daily Beast

We are of course in a peculiarly difficult position to grapple with this problem through lack of contemporary evidence.

From Project Gutenberg

At the moment he felt as if he could grapple the brute in bare hands and come off victor; and if otherwise—what matter?

From Project Gutenberg

A year before, their third cable had broken in mid-ocean, and it was now proposed to "grapple" for it.

From Project Gutenberg

We hope it will go on and agreeably grapple with the people in its own district whatever may become of the Jews.

From Project Gutenberg

Gilliatt was sufficiently familiar with marine rocks to grapple in earnest with the Douvres.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• confront
• contend
• cope
• deal with