clamp

verb

Definition of clampnext
as in to fasten
to put securely in place or in a desired position clamped the headphones to her ears and began to listen

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of clamp Simply clamp the Smart Jumper Cables with the mini flashlight directly onto the vehicle battery terminals and let the powerful 29600mWh (8000mAh) 4-cell, high-grade lithium-polymer battery do the work. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026 Sharon Rocha's mitochondrial DNA clamped in the jaws of a pair of pliers found in [Peterson’s] boat, [and] the presence of concrete debris in the boat cover that matched both the homemade boat anchor and the concrete debris on his flatbed trailer. — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 17 July 2026 The headphones uses a 12-point through-bolt construction, with 12 screws clamping the housing assembly from the outer housing to the front plate. — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 His supporters have clamped their mouths tighter than the federal budget for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for clamp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clamp
  1. fasten
  2. secure
  3. hitch
  4. anchor
Verb
  • Paired with her chocolate brown booties, Camilla donned a black wool trench coat with button closures fastening the collar in place, layered over what appeared to be a cowl-neck blouse with a floral-esque pattern.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • So, fellow Chicagoans, fasten your seatbelts and prepare for the wildest, most unnerving rollercoaster ride of the four budget cycles that have comprised the city’s Brandon Johnson Experience.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of fasten
Verb
  • Adding to the uncertainty, Israel's election appeared headed for a political stalemate, with neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his main challenger, Gadi Eisenkot, securing a clear path to a governing majority.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The exit polls suggested his opponents — led by Netanyahu’s chief rival, Gadi Eisenkot, who also rallied exuberant supporters in Tel Aviv early on Wednesday — could secure a solid majority in the next parliament.
    — Giovanna Dell'Orto, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of secure
Verb
  • His appointment was viewed with surprise in local political circles, where some questioned why a progressive mayor like Bass, with a background in community organizing, would hitch her fortunes to a law-and-order chief.
    — Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • For programmers, hitching their wagon to a large-scale tech platform is often worth giving up consumer data and revenue.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of hitch
Verb
  • Previously best known for mercurial supporting turns in projects ranging from Smile 2 to Novocaine, here Nicholson helps anchor a starry fall release for Netflix.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The living room is anchored by a cozy wood-burning stove, with a record player nearby for nights in, and a pull-out sofa makes room for more guests.
    — Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of anchor

Phrases Containing clamp

Browse Nearby Words

clamors (for)
clamp
clamp down
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clamp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clamp. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of candidate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 SCRABBLE Dictionary

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All