gropings
Uncertain tactile searches
Gropings is the plural of groping—instances of feeling about blindly or clumsily, or of touching someone sexually without consent.
The word appears in both literal and figurative contexts: his gropings in the dark for the light switch, early gropings toward a solution, multiple accusations of unwanted gropings.
Walking clumsily, almost falling
- blunderingActing with clumsy incompetence
- flounderingStruggling clumsily, failing
- bunglingMishandling through incompetence
- mishandlingManaging badly or clumsily
faltering · clutching · pawing · scrabbling · grabbing · reaching · grasping · clumsy
Aggressive, unwanted targeting
- assaultViolent offensive act
- molestationCriminal unwanted sexual contact
- inappropriateNot suitable or fitting
- violationBreaking of rules
predatory · creepy · offensive · nonconsensual · intrusive · violating · boundary crossing · unwelcome
Looking to find
- seekingAttempting to find
- probingThoroughly investigating something
- feeling aroundSearching by touch
- exploringTraveling to learn firsthand
hunting · casting about · questing · investigating · fishing · rummaging · sifting · rooting
Experiencing serious difficulty
- puzzlingCausing confusion or bewilderment
- wrestlingCombat sport requiring holds
- uncertainNot firmly known
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
halting · approximating · guessing · theorizing · intuiting · piecing together · questioning · provisional
stumbling
Walking clumsily, almost falling
- blunderingActing with clumsy incompetence
- flounderingStruggling clumsily, failing
- bunglingMishandling through incompetence
mishandling · faltering · clutching · pawing · scrabbling · grabbing · reaching · grasping · clumsy · awkward
harassment
Aggressive, unwanted targeting
- assaultViolent offensive act
- molestationCriminal unwanted sexual contact
- inappropriateNot suitable or fitting
violation · predatory · creepy · offensive · nonconsensual · intrusive · violating · boundary crossing · unwelcome · fondling
searching
Looking to find
- seekingAttempting to find
- probingThoroughly investigating something
- feeling aroundSearching by touch
exploring · hunting · casting about · questing · investigating · fishing · rummaging · sifting · rooting · delving
struggling
Experiencing serious difficulty
- puzzlingCausing confusion or bewilderment
- wrestlingCombat sport requiring holds
- uncertainNot firmly known
tentative · halting · approximating · guessing · theorizing · intuiting · piecing together · questioning · provisional · half-formed