Man straggles through a swamp, clawing desperately to find a place on which to stand.

Feels like a coffin, he thought, and wanted to claw desperately at the coffin's lid.

Ms. Perry says she "desperately clawed to get in" this semester.

Glancing down, I saw a warrior clutching my arm and clawing desperately for a better grip.

He desperately clawed at the ground and gave a final heave.

The dog still clawed desperately for footing as both of them dropped over the edge.

The youngster, seeing its mother, but unable to reach her, clawed desperately at the trap.

She was like a madwoman, clawing desperately for the scraps of her own redemption.

She clawed desperately at the mattress, pulling both of them to the edge of the bed.

He almost missed, desperately clawing for the door handle to give himself leverage.