clinched; clinching; clinches
1
2
a
: to turn over or flatten the protruding pointed end of (a driven nail)
also
: to treat (a screw, a bolt, a rivet, etc.) in a similar way
b
: to fasten in this way
3
a
: to make final or irrefutable : settle
that clinched the argument
b
: to assure the winning of
scored a touchdown to clinch the game
1
: to hold an opponent (as in boxing) at close quarters with one or both arms
2
: to hold fast or firmly
Examples of clinch in a Sentence
Verb
His home run clinched the victory.
The new evidence clinches the case.
Her work on the project should clinch her a promotion.
The photos of the city have clinched it for me. I have to visit Prague.
If they win tonight's game they'll clinch the pennant.
Noun
The referee told the boxers to break their clinch.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lydia Mee, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
Thursday clinched the Blue Jays’ third-ever four-game sweep of the Yankees and their first in Toronto.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 4 July 2025
Kristine Fischer, Outdoor Life, 25 June 2025
Pereira shut down every takedown attempt, but his downfall was his inability to separate from Ankalaev’s clinches against the cage in the third and fourth rounds.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clinch
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Verb
John Pyle/Getty Images Austin Prock clinched the victory of the Richmond Funny Car event in 2025 after an intense final against Jack Beckman.
—Lydia Mee, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
Thursday clinched the Blue Jays’ third-ever four-game sweep of the Yankees and their first in Toronto.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 4 July 2025
Noun
There are other braid knots that hold well, too, just remember that knots like the clinch that work well with monofilament have a tendency to slip when tied with slick braid.
—Kristine Fischer, Outdoor Life, 25 June 2025
Pereira shut down every takedown attempt, but his downfall was his inability to separate from Ankalaev’s clinches against the cage in the third and fourth rounds.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clinch
Cite this Entry
“Clinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clinch. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clinch
2 of 2 noun1
: a fastening by means of a clinched nail, rivet, or bolt
2
: the clinched part of a nail, bolt, or rivet
Geographical Definition
Clinch
geographical name
river about 300 miles (480 kilometers) long in southwestern Virginia and eastern Tennessee flowing southwest into the Tennessee River
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