Synonyms for

Grappling

Verb / ˈgræplɪŋ / / ˈgræpʌlɪŋ / Another word for grappling — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

The act of struggling or trying to overcome something difficult.

Synonyms & similar words

rassling handtohandstruggle deal manage contend getby wrestle grapple grip cope makedo wrestling makeout wrestling scuffling struggling tussling battling fighting combatting contending clashing grinding jousting sparring wrangling warring engaging waging rassling writhing agonizing challenging

Synonyms by register

Formal

wrestling contending struggling clashing

Informal

tussling scuffling mixing it up

Literary

wrestling with contending with grappling with

Antonyms

releasing freeing unfastening loosening ceding yielding

Common collocations

  • grappling hook
  • grappling with issues
  • grappling with a problem
  • grappling with fear
  • grappling with the implications
  • grappling with the concept

Word family

noun grapple
verb grapple
adjective grappling

Usage note

While 'grappling' can refer to physical wrestling, it is more commonly used metaphorically to describe the act of struggling to understand or deal with a difficult concept or problem.

Example sentences

  1. The fisherman was grappling with the big fish to reel it in.
  2. The students were grappling with the difficult math problem.
  3. The firefighters were grappling with the raging fire to put it out.
  4. The climbers were grappling with the steep mountain to reach the peak.
  5. The company was grappling with the financial crisis to stay afloat.

Quotes

  • I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have. - Thomas Jefferson
  • Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. - Winston Churchill
  • Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle. - Christian D. Larson

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