1
: a strap that holds a saddle on a horse
2
: a tight grip
3
a
: 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
cinched; cinching; cinches
1
a
: 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
: to tighten the cinch
—often used with up
cinched up before mounting his horse
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
Mary Ann Esposito, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
Lenses can be changed with ease to accommodate both sunny and overcast conditions, and replacement lenses are a cinch to order.
—Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 25 Feb. 2026
Alice Cary, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2026
His costumes alone are a wonder, a series of bell-bottom jumpsuits, many of them accented with elegant high, Revolutionary War-era collars and cinched with macramé belts, their fringe swinging in time with his hips.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cinch
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Noun
This make-it and bake-it one-pan fish casserole is a cinch for great eating and easy cleanup.
—Mary Ann Esposito, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
Lenses can be changed with ease to accommodate both sunny and overcast conditions, and replacement lenses are a cinch to order.
—Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
Expect waist-cinching corsets and ribbons galore, flourished with hair spirals and constellation face gems.
—Alice Cary, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2026
His costumes alone are a wonder, a series of bell-bottom jumpsuits, many of them accented with elegant high, Revolutionary War-era collars and cinched with macramé belts, their fringe swinging in time with his hips.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cinch
Cite this Entry
“Cinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cinch. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cinch
1 of 2 noun1
: a strong girth for a pack or saddle
2
: an easy thing to do
3
: something sure to happen
cinch
2 of 2 verb1
: to put a cinch on
2
: to make certain
the goal that cinched the victory
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