What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Gripped vs Clenched - What's the difference?

gripped | clenched |

As verbs the difference between gripped and clenched

is that gripped is past tense of grip while clenched is past tense of clench.

As an adjective clenched is

closed tightly.

gripped

English

Verb

(head)
  • (grip)

  • grip

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) grippan, from a (etyl) , whence English gripe. See also (l).

    Verb

    (gripp)
  • To take hold of, particularly with the hand.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=19 citation , passage=When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to let him loose, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him.}}
  • To help or assist, particularly in an emotional sense.
  • * 1898 , , (Moonfleet) Chapter 4
  • By and by fumes of brandy began to fill the air, and climb to where I lay, overcoming the mouldy smell of decayed wood and the dampness of the green walls. It may have been that these fumes mounted to my head, and gave me courage not my own, but so it was that I lost something of the stifling fear that had gripped me, and could listen with more ease to what was going forward
  • To do something with another that makes you happy/gives you relief.
  • To trench; to drain.
  • Etymology 2

    An amalgam of (etyl) (cognate with Swedish ''grepp ).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A hold or way of holding, particularly with the hand.
  • A handle or other place to grip.
  • A visual component on a window etc. enabling it to be resized and/or moved.
  • (film production) A person responsible for handling equipment on the set.
  • A channel cut through a grass verge (especially for the purpose of draining water away from the highway).
  • A lot of something.
  • : Influenza, flu.
  • (archaic) A small travelling-bag.
  • Assistance; help or encouragement.
  • A helpful, interesting, admirable, or inspiring person.
  • (slang) As much as one can hold in a hand; a handful.
  • (figurative) A tenacious grasp; a holding fast.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= The attack of the MOOCs , passage=Dotcom mania was slow in coming to higher education, but now it has the venerable industry firmly in its grip . Since the launch early last year of Udacity and Coursera, two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations.}}
  • A device for grasping or holding fast to something.
  • Etymology 3

    From (etyl) grip, grippe, .

    Alternative forms

    *

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (dialectal) A small ditch or trench; a channel to carry off water or other liquid; a drain.
  • (Ray)
    Derived terms
    *

    Etymology 4

    (etyl) (lena) grypus, gryphus.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) The griffin.
  • Anagrams

    * ----

    clenched

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Closed tightly.
  • a clenched fist

    Antonyms

    * unclenched

    Verb

    (head)
  • (clench)