groping
Americanadjective
-
moving or going about clumsily or hesitantly; stumbling.
-
showing or reflecting a desire to understand, especially something that proves puzzling.
a groping scrutiny; a groping expression.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of groping
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at grope, -ing 2
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.
She’s also spinning an intergenerational tale of Black women groping past their initial distrust to a deeper understanding of what they have in common.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
Vandier said AI is turning military intelligence analysis from a task of groping in darkness for targets to one of sifting through piles of them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 7, 2026
Mark Wood, in his first match since March because of injury and the weather, hurled a 95mph delivery that had Muhammad Rizwan groping at fresh air.
From BBC ● May 30, 2024
Iran and the United States are groping their way out of several simultaneous crises, including over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.
From New York Times ● May 19, 2024
Mr Loomis, running in a groping kind of way, as if he could not see well, had not gone to the tent but to the trunk.
From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien
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