The phrase "comes to grips" means to confront or deal with a difficult situation or problem. When searching for synonyms, one could consider words such as "tackles," "confronts," "addresses," "faces," "grapples," "handles," "meets," and "engages with." Each of these words suggests an active approach towards dealing with a challenge or obstacle, emphasizing the need for taking action rather than simply avoiding the issue. By using these synonyms, one can vary their language and express their ideas more precisely, while maintaining the intended meaning of the original phrase.