Before the horse race begins, the jockeys grip the reins tightly to restrain the impatient horses.
Source: tatoeba (19264)
Grip
/ɡɹɪp/
Synonyms for "grip" (378 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (76)
Noun(18 words)
abductabilityabsorbabsorb the attentionaccessacerbityacidityacquireacridityacrimonyaddressadeptnessadhere toadministrationadroitnessairmanshipapoplexyapprehensionapproacharrest
Show 36 more words
Verb(1 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (113)
clutchclutchescoercioncommandcompelcompetencecomprehensionconceptionconceptualizationconfrontconstraintcontend withcontrolconvulsioncoordinationcope withcraftcraftsmanshipcrampcunning
Show 62 more words
custodydeal withdeath gripdeftnessdexteritydexterousnessdextrousnessdiplomacydispositiondominationdominiondraindriveduresseclampsiaedgeefficiencyembraceemperyempireenchantengageengage the attentionengage the mindengage the thoughtsengrossengross the mindengross the thoughtsenthrallentranceepilepsyepitasisexerciseexpertisefacefacilityfalling sicknessfascinatefeelfeelingfiercenessfinessefirm holdfitfootholdfootingforeknowledgefreeze togetgovernancegovernmentgrabgracegrapplegrapple withgraspgripehafthandhand-clasphandinesshandle
Related words (189)
Noun(31 words)
handleshandlingheadlockhilthiltsholdingholdsicelandic haldainfluencelatchlugsmasterpinchpinchespinchingpinningplastic watering can handleseizestatic frictionstiction
Show 11 more words
strangleholdssuitcaseswaytractiontractionstraveling bagtravelling bagunderstandvisewatering can handlewatering-can handle
handshanghang onhang on toharshnesshelmhelveholdhold fasthold onhold on tohold spellboundhold the interesthold tightholdallhorsemanshiphughypnotizeictusideation
Show 129 more words
immerseimpelinfatuateinfluenceingeniousnessingenuityinstrumentintellectionintelligenceinvolveinvolve the interestiron gripiron handjurisdictionkeennesskeep hold ofkidnapknow howknow-howluggagemarksmanshipmastershipmasterymental graspmeshmesmerizemonopolizemordacitymordancynever let gonipnot let goobsessoccupyoccupy the attentionorgasmovernight bagpalmparoxysmpartakeperceptionpinchpocketpoignancypointpossesspowerpractical abilityprecognitionprehensionpreoccupyproficiencyprowesspurchasequicknessrajreadinessreceiveregnancyreignreins of governmentresourceresourcefulnessrestraintrigorrivetroughnessrulesatchelsavoir-fairesavvyseamanshipseizeseizuresensesensitivityseveritysexual climaxshanghaisharpnessskillskillfulnesssovereigntyspasmspellbindsqueezestealstickstick tostingstridencystringencystrokestylesuitcasesuzeraintyswaytackletacttactfulnesstaketake uptalonstartnesstechnical brilliancetechnical masterytechnical skilltechniqueteethtenurethroesthrottletight griptimingtoeholdtooltrenchancytweakunderstandingundertakevehemenceviewviolencevirtuosityvirulencewisdomwitwizardryworkmanship
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: clasp, clutch, grasp, handle, hold.
- Sentence evidence is available for grip, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "grip".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "grip"
Keep "grip" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "grip" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "grip", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "grip" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
27 entriesShowing 16 of 27 words.
More specific
17 entriesShowing 16 of 17 words.
Collocations
8 entriesfirm gripgood gripgrip strengthgrip tapepistol gripsecure gripstrong griptight grip
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesTranslations
27 translations across 22 languages.
Arabic
1 entries- مَقْبِض noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Armenian
2 entries- բռնակ noun (A handle or other place to grip)
- կոթ noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Bulgarian
2 entries- дръжка noun (A handle or other place to grip)
- ръкохватка noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Central Kurdish
1 entries- دەسک noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 柄 noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Czech
2 entries- držadlo noun (A handle or other place to grip)
- rukojeť noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Danish
1 entries- greb noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Dutch
1 entries- handvat noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Esperanto
1 entries- tenilo noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Finnish
2 entries- kahva noun (A handle or other place to grip)
- ote noun (A handle or other place to grip)
French
1 entries- poignée noun (A handle or other place to grip)
German
1 entries- Griff noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Latin
1 entries- ampla noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Macedonian
1 entries- рачка noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Mongolian
1 entries- бариул noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Māori
1 entries- puringa noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Plautdietsch
1 entries- Jräp noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Portuguese
1 entries- agarra noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Russian
2 entries- ру́чка noun (A handle or other place to grip)
- рукоя́тка noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Spanish
1 entries- empuñadura noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Swedish
1 entries- grepp noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Tamil
1 entries- கைப்பிடி noun (A handle or other place to grip)
Sample sentences
44 total sentences available.
Tom got a grip on his emotions.
Source: tatoeba (37102)
The wrestler has a formidable grip.
Source: tatoeba (49704)
He got a good grip on the bat before swinging.
Source: tatoeba (292418)
Showing 4 of 44 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "grip"?
Closest matches include clasp, clutch, grasp, handle, hold.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "grip"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.