as in grips
the act or manner of holding
be careful that your clasp on the cat isn't too tight, or she could get hurt
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in hugs
to put one's arms around and press tightly
clasped his long-lost sister and cried without restraint
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in grasps
to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms
clasped a crayon and began drawing
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clasps
Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 4 Dec. 2025
Ancient book clasps — used to keep manuscript tomes shut — were uncovered at the site, along with styli, the medieval equivalents of pens and pencils.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Waterproof cases might have durable clips or clasps.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025
Zippers and clasps are built to stand up to daily use—mine has even encountered a few rainstorms—without losing shine or functionality.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
All of them have been broken into by raiders over the centuries, their walls smashed or lids prised off despite once being locked shut with metal clasps.
—Barry Neild, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
Its small gold details include a metal pinmount logo, clasps, and a magnetic snap closure inside to keep your items secure.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2025
That tension surfaced in slouchy tailoring, glossy patent reprised from 1998, and a focus on Gancini clasps.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
New Atlas, 13 Dec. 2025
Noun
This cozy cable knit is held together with two utilitarian clasps—adorable, yet edgy.
—Verb
Keeping that hardshell closed is a pair of wide, beefy aluminum latches with a lower swing arm that clasps to a closure bar via a pair of hooks.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for clasps
Noun
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But in the second season of the series, which wrapped last Sunday, a new sense of uncertainty, reflection, and maturity grips the central characters, making for even better television.—
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The changes to the federal vaccine schedule come as Rhode Island is in the grips of a severe flu season, which has led hospital systems to institute masking requirements at their medical facilities.—
Verb
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The green zone is a band of territory that hugs much of Gaza’s eastern perimeter and includes other areas seized through months of Israeli ground operations.—
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As Dustin sobs, Steve hugs him, finally understanding why Dustin has been protecting himself from getting hurt again by putting up a hostile front.—
Verb
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When the robot successfully grasps a door handle in simulation, that state is saved.—
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The photo shows Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce on one knee as Swift grasps his face.—
Verb
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The central legal question was whether the board of governors or the club’s voting members holds the ultimate power to authorize major capital projects and debt.—
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New York — Collective wisdom holds that an independent central bank is absolutely vital for any advanced economy.—
Verb
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Cherry Blossoms • Monique’s picking up on the intensity with which Angel clings to her identity as an NFL wife was genuinely insightful and has the potential to be a real breakthrough moment for Angel in what has been a very fraught season for her.—
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Furthermore, the editorial clings to an outdated vision of the Loop as solely a 9-to-5 business district.—
Verb
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Whoever takes the role is significantly restricted by the prior regime.—
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When violations occur and are reported, CPS takes prompt and appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination and referral to law enforcement, as required by law, while upholding the highest ethical standards.—
Cite this Entry
“Clasps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clasps. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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