as in interesting
holding the attention or provoking interest
I found the exhibit on the Holocaust intensely gripping and quite moving
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in clenching
to have or keep in one's hands
gripped the handlebars tightly and raced down the hill
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fascinating
to hold the attention of as if by a spell
that true crime story gripped me as much as any whodunit
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in intriguing
to hold the attention of
that movie will grip any true sports car fan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in grasping
to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms
the baby gripped my fingers and wouldn't let go
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gripping
Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 28 Feb. 2025
With its gripping trailer now unveiled, Magazine Dreams is once again in the spotlight, sparking discussions about both its raw storytelling and the controversy surrounding its lead actor.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 30 Jan. 2025
But for the length of its gripping first act, Maclean’s earthy survival thriller seems pointed towards very similar ends.
—Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2025
Told over six episodes, the gripping limited series starring Angela Bassett, Connie Britton, Jesse Plemons and Robert De Niro meshes fact with fiction to tell this captivating and frightening life-like story about terrorism, truth, control and oversight.
—Stacy Lambe, People.com, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gripping
Adjective
What stands out, besides the clearly gripping story, is the way Odell seems so open and curious in her mission to understand how something like this could happen, her curiosity superseding her resentment.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 28 Feb. 2025
With its gripping trailer now unveiled, Magazine Dreams is once again in the spotlight, sparking discussions about both its raw storytelling and the controversy surrounding its lead actor.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 30 Jan. 2025
But for the length of its gripping first act, Maclean’s earthy survival thriller seems pointed towards very similar ends.
—Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2025
Told over six episodes, the gripping limited series starring Angela Bassett, Connie Britton, Jesse Plemons and Robert De Niro meshes fact with fiction to tell this captivating and frightening life-like story about terrorism, truth, control and oversight.
—Stacy Lambe, People.com, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gripping
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gripping
Adjective
-
The series has an interesting group of producers including Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, who is a lifelong Blues fan, who will exec produce, and Tom Brady, who bought a minority stake in the club in August 2023 and will produce via his Religion of Sports label.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Having said that, there might be interesting parallels with other cases and countries.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
From better group notifications to zooming in on video calls, these are designed to make WhatsApp more engaging.—
Prakhar Khanna,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
-
Hoppus’s new book is a funny, engaging and heartfelt reflection on everything from his childhood in the California desert and the rowdy early years of Blink-182, to the band’s trials and tribulations and eventually his battle with cancer.—
Rachel DeSantis,
People.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Any incumbent party would have had trouble holding onto the White House.—
Alex Thompson,
Axios,
22 Mar. 2025
-
This tiny spot has everything needed for relaxation—a pair of Adirondack chairs to lean back and reflect on the day and a tiny table for holding drinks and snacks.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
What’s Not In There were some intriguing omissions.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Built in 2019 and completed in 2020, the five-bedroom, eight-bathroom house has an intriguing backstory that lines up perfectly with its glamorous exterior and interior.—
TJ Macias,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The White Sox, though, had other ideas, grabbing Smith with the first pick of the draft for $100,000.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Knowing defensive back is a glaring need, especially with the release of Jack Jones, is trading back and grabbing someone like Jahdae Barron while acquiring another second-round pick worth considering?—
Vic Tafur,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Elsewhere in the interview, the Australian actress revealed that the movie — in which Kidman plays a woman having an affair with a younger man — was thrilling for her.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
3 Jan. 2025
-
With such fine margins at play, a thrilling title race is effectively guaranteed.—
Neel Shelat,
Forbes,
1 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
In between exploring Galicia’s storied cities, visitors should be sure to spend some time immersing themselves in the wilderness, with vast swathes of verdant forest to explore.—
Jared Ranahan,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
-
For example, the Kross Studio's Bat-Signal lamp illuminates, further immersing the collector into the universe of Gotham City and also conceals a dedicated space on his backside to safely store The Batman tourbillon or any other watch.—
Stéphane JG Girod,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This rule set up a fascinating opportunity to directly compare the health outcomes of two groups of individuals over time.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Yet, as captured in this fascinating documentary, his life and on-set persona were messy, complicated, and unforgettable.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gripping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gripping. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share