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Synonyms

gripping

American  
[grip-ing] / ˈgrɪp ɪŋ /

adjective

  1. holding the attention or interest intensely; fascinating; enthralling.

    a gripping play; a gripping book.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of gripping

First recorded in 1620–30; grip + -ing 2

Vocabulary lists containing gripping

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.

What we throw away doesn’t take long to resurface, sometimes in the form of a witty, wise and gripping memoir.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

Easy: Yesterday, I was not only gripping the armrest but gripping the hand of the flight attendant who was sitting down in the aisle, soothing me as I hyperventilated and wept.

From Slate • May 10, 2026

The software stock has been battered by industrywide fears of AI disruption and was a victim of a broader selloff gripping the IT services sector.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

But what’s most gripping about this thorough, scholarly survey is that it immerses viewers in the Celtic aesthetic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

Aru squeezed her eyes shut, gripping Vajra tightly.

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi

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