grasping

[gras-ping, grahs-]

adjective

1. greedy; avaricious.

   a sly, grasping man.

   Synonyms: venal, acquisitive, selfish, covetous

2. being used to grasp or tending to grasp; tenacious.

grasping

/ ˈɡrɑːspɪŋ /

adjective

1. greedy; avaricious; rapacious

Other Word Forms

• graspingly adverb
• graspingness noun
• overgrasping adjective
• ungrasping adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of grasping¹

First recorded in 1540–50; grasp + -ing ²

Example Sentences

And on Thursday Chinese official Li Chao told a National Development and Reform Commission briefing on Thursday: "'Speed' and 'bubble' have always been issues that need grasping and balance in the development of frontier industries."

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Thai massage therapists who did not understand English well had trouble grasping the class material, which involves anatomy and other technical topics, Kantachote said.

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Was I grasping at a bit of my youth?

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Suddenly, the image of a hand grasping a pistol emerges from the scrum.

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All shared a distinction: They had proven far less capable of grasping basic truths in the heart of the U.S. financial system than a one-eyed money manager with Asperger’s syndrome.

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