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Definition of grasping

grasping

/ˈɡræs.pɪŋ/
grasp · ing
Adverb:graspingly
•
Plural:graspings
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grasping Lexical Profile

grasping Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Excessively greedy, avaricious, or eager to acquire wealth and material possessions.

Example

"The novel portrays the landlord as a grasping miser who refuses to repair the tenants' heating."

2

Adapted for or capable of seizing, holding, or wrapping firmly around an object.

Example

"Primates evolved grasping hands and opposable thumbs to navigate life in the forest canopy."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

The physical act of seizing, clutching, or holding something firmly, or an eager attempt to attain something.

Example

"The infant's instinctive grasping of her mother's finger is a key developmental reflex."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for grasping

• Rhymes for grasping

• Nearby Words

grasp
graspable
grasper
grasping
grass
grass carp
grass lizard

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Middle English verb 'graspen', meaning to grope or clutch, from a Proto-Germanic root related to 'grope'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Grasping. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/grasping
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