cinch

noun

\ ˈsinch

Definition of cinch

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a strap that holds a saddle on a horse

2 : a tight grip

3a : a thing done with ease Getting reelected would be a cinch for him.

b : a certainty to happen it's a cinch he'll break the record

cinch

verb

cinched; cinching; cinches

Definition of cinch (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to put a cinch on cinch a horse

b : to fasten (something, such as a belt or strap) tightly He cinched his belt tight.

2 : to make certain : assure the goal that cinched the victory

intransitive verb

: to tighten the cinch —often used with up cinched up before mounting his horse

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about cinch

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Examples of cinch in a Sentence

Noun

This recipe is a cinch. This dish is a cinch to make.

Verb

The coat is cinched at the waist. The rider cinched the saddle. The candidate cinched the nomination by winning the major primary elections. The home run cinched the victory.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Waist trainers—latex undergarments that wrap tightly around the belly and cinch in the waist for an hourglass figure—came into vogue around 2015, when Kim Kardashian West and her sisters began praising them on Instagram. — Ray A. Smith, WSJ, "‘Worst Decision Ever’: A New Fashion Trend Leaves Women Literally Breathless," 16 Aug. 2018 Takes Shira Ovide is annoyed that Facebook keeps comparing its efforts to shore up global democracy to its effort in 2012 to build a successful mobile app: Facebook’s 2012 smartphone reboot was a cinch compared with its current challenges. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "The fake video era of US politics has arrived on Twitter," 9 Nov. 2018 Turning this basic formula into a sheet-pan meal is a cinch: Just stick another pan of veggies in the oven at the same time, and add some herbs and crunchy peanuts as garnish. — Melissa Clark, The Seattle Times, "How to make sheet-pan suppers without the meat," 1 Oct. 2018 Making enhancing simple ingredients a cinch, Mills' kitchen MVPS are a Nutribullet Blender and MagiMix Food Processer. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "A Beginner's Guide to Plant-Based Eating With Deliciously Ella," 15 Sep. 2018 These foods make cooking fast, weeknight dinners a cinch, keep for ages, and are packed with nutrition. — Southern Living, "7 Healthy Foods You Should Always Have in Your Freezer," 8 Mar. 2018 Fifteen hundred sheets of regular printer paper may seem like a cinch in comparison to crushing a bowling ball or an anvil, but paper is deceptively hardy. — Sophie Weiner, Popular Mechanics, "The Hydraulic Press is Nearly Defeated By 1,500 Sheets of Paper," 28 July 2017 As far as cancer treatments go, treating a basal cell carcinoma is a cinch. — Macaela Mackenzie, Allure, "Skin Cancer: A Visual Guide to Identifying Warning Signs on Your Body," 2 July 2018 Hali is a five-time Pro Bowler and a cinch to one day be enshrined in the Chiefs’ Ring of Honor. — Blair Kerkhoff, kansascity, "Tamba Hali hints at retirement and sings praises of Chiefs' Mahomes," 27 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Its diagonal stripes and cinched waist produce a totally slimming effect. — Redbook, "Audrey's Outfit of the Day: Guest Post - Beat the Heat," 28 July 2011 The unusual look fit perfectly and was cinched in at the waist, creating an iconic hourglass figure. — Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "Kourtney Kardashian's Silver Strapless Dress Will Give You Serious Tin Foil Vibes," 8 Dec. 2018 Once in the lead to cinch the Democratic nomination, Hart was derailed after allegations of an affair with actress Donna Rice surfaced in The Miami Herald. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "The True Story of Gary Hart's Presidential Campaign Scandal in The Front Runner," 8 Nov. 2018 The issue stems from the vehicle’s seatbelt pretensioner system, which uses a small explosive charge to cinch the belts in the event of a collision. — Gary Gastelu, Fox News, "Ford recalling 2 million F-150s due to fire risk," 6 Sep. 2018 Magda Butrym, meanwhile, has been working a feminine theme, with floral, ruffled dresses, voluminous shoulders, rich velvet, sweetheart necklines and cinched waists. — Florence Kane, WSJ, "5 Young Designers You Should Know," 16 Aug. 2018 On the body, cinched around the rib cage with an obi, the kimono becomes three-dimensional, a column; through gathering and draping, a range of age-old silhouettes are possible. — Laura Jacobs, WSJ, "‘Kimono Refashioned: 1870s-Now!’ Review: Unfolding a Garment’s Long History," 16 Oct. 2018 The floor-length dress was intricately detailed with lace and pleats and cinched at the waist with a thick pink band. — Zoë Weiner, Teen Vogue, "Shannon Purser and Noah Centineo Attend the “Sierra Burgess Is A Loser” Premiere," 31 Aug. 2018 Accessorizing her chic all-black outfit, Kylie opted for a black purse that cinched around her waist and shoulder like a harness and a pair of fishnet heels. — Maria Pasquini, PEOPLE.com, "Kylie and Kendall Jenner Debut Bold Looks in N.Y.C. Ahead of the Met Gala," 6 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cinch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.