grapple

Meaning

Verb

1. To seize something and hold it firmly.
2. To wrestle or tussle.
3. To ponder and intensely evaluate a problem; to struggle to deal with.

Noun

1. A close hand-to-hand struggle.
2. The act of grappling. (uncountable)

Noun

1. A tool with claws or hooks which is used to catch or hold something.
2. A tool with claws or hooks which is used to catch or hold something.

Noun

A combination of grape and apple flavors.

Synonyms

catch

capture

wrestle

grapnel

grab

fight

grasp

grip

scuffle

seize

clutch

struggle

battle

grappling

grappling iron

grappler

snatch

grappling hook

manage

apprehend

cope

combat

captivate

nab

trap

🪤

deal

wrestling

🤼

contend

make out

make do

hand-to-hand struggle

strife

clamshell

get by

quarrel

come to blows

conflict

clamp

🗜️

dogfight

tussle

rapine

ravish

ravishment

rifle

robbery

run across

run up against

scald

score

scramble

scrounge

seizure

skirmish

snap

solve

spoil

strike

swoop

tackle

take hold

tie

tongs

tug-of-war

war

hold close

lay hold of

struggle with

tear from

to bind closely

acquit

ream grab

adhere

attain

behave

bite

bout

brawl

buckle

carry off

close

come

confiscate

contest

cramp

depredation

discern

do

encounter

engagement

fastening

fend

find

🔍

gather up

get over

get through

gripe

handhold

hit

hold

hold on

hook

🪝

keep

make

match

mitt

notice

perceive

plunder

poach

rape

Hyphenated as

grap‧ple

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɡɹæpəl/

Etymology

Cognate with Old English: ġegræppian

Cognate with Dutch: grabbelen

Cognate with German: grabbeln

Cognate with Old French: grappin

In summary

From Middle English *grapplen (“to seize, lay hold of”), from Old English *græpplian (“to seize”) (compare Old English ġegræppian (“to seize”)), from Proto-Germanic *graipilōną, *grabbalōną (“to seize”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰrebʰ- (“to take, seize, rake”), equivalent to grab + -le.
Cognate with Dutch grabbelen (“to grope, scramble, scrabble”), German grabbeln (“to rummage, grope about”) and grapsen, grapschen (“to seize, grasp, grabble”). Influenced in some senses by grapple (“tool with claws or hooks”, noun) (see below). See further at grasp.