grapple

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "grapple" is correct and acceptable in written English.
You can use it to describe the act of trying to gain control of a situation or to solve a problem. For example, "The CEO spent the last week grappling with the difficult decision of whether or not to lay off 30% of their workforce."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Related: The 'worm' on the leaders' debates may be good TV but it's bad for democracy | Letters Such a commission would also need to grapple with the format, a question that has not been satisfactorily answered by either of the two pre-election broadcasts thus far this year.

The Guardian - Opinion

After an introduction to the theory, boys and girls over eight grapple with dinghies supervised by Omani instructors.

The Guardian - Sport

Gardiner was in Sydney for a two-day symposium that aimed to grapple with the moral and ethical consequences of geoengineering, also known as climate modification.

The Guardian

From my vantage point, I watched festival-goers grapple with the single biggest environmental challenge they'd faced all weekend: how to extract the family station wagon from the festival car park mud.

The Guardian - Travel

Privacy is a difficult topic for science and technology policymakers to grapple with, both viciously complex and floatingly abstract.

The Guardian

An ageing population with more complex health needs, a tough financial climate with no expectation of significant new money, growing concerns about staff stress levels, public expectations that care should be delivered with compassion and respect – there are just some of the issues NHS senior staff are having to grapple with.

The Guardian

"Living up to our age-old mission demands a willingness to grapple with the economic, social and global challenges as they are before us now".

The Guardian

I've had to grapple with finding a balance between my social and personal life, between doing what I want and what my parents want, and it's not been easy.

The Guardian

So when the ex-spin doctor was asked how Miliband was doing, he said he ws "struggling" to grapple with the coalition's policies, with Labour's legacy and the urgent need to create a new centre-left analysis for the 21st century.

The Guardian

Until then, much of British cinema will be hostage to the Hollywood hegemony and continue to grapple with identity issues.

The Guardian

But as spending cuts continue and politicians grapple with the immigration debate, they must not abandon Britain's great rebalancing act.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grapple" when you want to emphasize a determined effort to understand or overcome a challenging situation, whether physical or intellectual.

Common error

Avoid using "grapple" when a simpler word like "handle" or "address" suffices. "Grapple" suggests a more profound or difficult struggle.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "grapple" is as a verb, indicating the action of engaging in a close physical or mental struggle. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where "grapple" describes active engagement with a challenge.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grapple" is a versatile verb used to describe both physical and mental struggles. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. While it can be used across registers, it tends to be more prevalent in neutral to formal writing. Remember to use "grapple" when you want to emphasize the difficulty and determination involved in addressing a challenge. Related phrases such as "contend with", "wrestle with" and "struggle with" can provide alternative ways to express similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contend with

Focuses on struggling or competing with something.

wrestle with

Implies a more intense struggle, often internal or intellectual.

struggle with

Highlights the difficulty and effort involved in dealing with something.

tackle

Suggests a more direct and decisive approach to a problem.

address

Focuses on dealing with or discussing a matter.

confront

Implies facing a challenge or problem directly.

cope with

Emphasizes managing or enduring a difficult situation.

deal with

A general term for handling or managing something.

face

Highlights encountering a challenge or problem.

manage

Implies successfully handling or controlling a situation.

FAQs

How do you use "grapple" in a sentence?

You can use "grapple" to describe a physical struggle or a mental effort to understand or solve a problem. For example, "The team had to grapple with the technical difficulties" or "The debaters grappled with complex philosophical questions".

What can I say instead of "grapple"?

You can use alternatives like "contend with", "wrestle with", or "struggle with" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "grapple with" or "grapple against"?

"Grapple with" is the correct and more commonly used form. "Grapple against" is less frequent and might sound awkward to native English speakers.

Is "grapple" only used for physical struggles?

No, "grapple" can be used for both physical and intellectual struggles. It describes a determined effort to overcome a challenge, whether it's a physical opponent or a difficult concept.