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Showing results for "grasping"
  • present participle of grasp.
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Synonyms

grasping

American  
[gras-ping, grahs-] / ˈgræs pɪŋ, ˈgrɑs- /

adjective

  1. greedy; avaricious.

    a sly, grasping man.

    Synonyms:
    venal, acquisitive, selfish, covetous
  2. being used to grasp or tending to grasp; tenacious.


grasping British  
/ ˈɡrɑːspɪŋ /

adjective

  1. greedy; avaricious; rapacious

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of grasping

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

Vocabulary lists containing grasping

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.

See Examples For:

Now, as growth flatlines, a desperate government is grasping for ideas to get the economy going again, including opening up retail across the whole week.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 19, 2026

Much to my surprise, Radcliffe more than steps up as a down-and-out documentarian inserted into the life of a disgraced football star grasping for a comeback.

From Salon Jun. 20, 2026

He prays for her before each game, looking up to the sky while grasping his wife’s necklace, then kissing a ring that has her fingerprint tattooed on it.

From Los Angeles Times May 13, 2026

I'm not sure we are grasping this rare opportunity with the gusto that's needed and I cannot keep waiting around for a crisis to push for faster progress.

From BBC May 12, 2026

I see my hands grasping the wheel, and I feel strong arms wrenching my legs.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

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