often attributive
1
: a sharp usually slender and curved nail on the toe of an animal
2
: any of various sharp curved processes especially at the end of a limb (as of an insect)
also
: a limb ending in such a process
3
: one of the pincerlike organs terminating some limbs of various arthropods (such as a lobster or scorpion)
4
: something that resembles a claw
specifically
: the forked end of a tool (such as a hammer)
clawed; clawing; claws
: to rake, seize, dig, or progress with or as if with claws
: to scrape, scratch, dig, or pull with or as if with claws
Examples of claw in a Sentence
Noun
The eagle was carrying a mouse in its sharp claws.
The excavating machine's claw dug into the earth.
the claw of a hammer
Verb
How can we stop the cat from clawing the drapes?
The dog clawed a hole in the carpet.
She tried to claw his face with her fingernails.
Recent Examples on the Web
Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
Two claws emerge from the cloudy water, and an off-white crab comes into focus.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
The giant claw was built separately in Redwood City, California, on a barge called HMB-1.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
The claws are coming out in the Indiana governor's race.
—Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Mar. 2024
This particular set comes with 75 pieces, including a meat thermometer, 50 bamboo skewers, meat claws, and so much more.
—Marilyn La Jeunesse, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2024
The legs disappear, with only the claws still visible.
—Laurent Palka, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024
Inside is a tardigrade, so well-preserved that its tiny claws are still visible.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
The species has reddish-brown claws and front of its body, while the rest of the creature is a tan or lightish brown color, according to the study.
—Irene Wright, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
Samanth Subramanian Vikas Adam Tanya Pérez Zachary Mouton, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
Punching, biting, clawing, freezing and other attacks are employed by the beasts as well.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
The Aztecs clawed their way back from a 14-point deficit in the second half against Florida Atlantic and were now one play away from making history as the first San Diego State team to make it to the NCAA tournament championship game.
—Jordan Ruttert, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
As temperatures rise in late April, pale, red-eyed cicada nymphs begin clawing pinky-sized holes in the ground, preparing for their grand May entrance.
—Celia Ford, WIRED, 28 Mar. 2024
In the summer of 1994, very few people expected Rwanda to survive as an independent state, let alone bounce back and become an inspiration to people clawing their way out of violence and trauma around the world.
—Jonathan M. Hansen, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024
Dallas never relented and clawed within two, but the Warriors nonetheless narrowly escaped.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
This clever brooch is meant to claw at the side of a lapel in a nod to a singular apendage of the maison‘s perennial mascot, the Panthère.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2024
The only way to begin clawing his way back is to start making payments on time (and, ideally, in full), as well as only using about 10 to 30 percent of his available credit each month.
—The Enquirer, 27 Feb. 2024
Noun
This team, the most expensive in NBA history, had to scrap and claw to make the play-in tournament.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
Two claws emerge from the cloudy water, and an off-white crab comes into focus.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
The giant claw was built separately in Redwood City, California, on a barge called HMB-1.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
The claws are coming out in the Indiana governor's race.
—Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Mar. 2024
This particular set comes with 75 pieces, including a meat thermometer, 50 bamboo skewers, meat claws, and so much more.
—Marilyn La Jeunesse, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2024
The legs disappear, with only the claws still visible.
—Laurent Palka, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024
Inside is a tardigrade, so well-preserved that its tiny claws are still visible.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
The species has reddish-brown claws and front of its body, while the rest of the creature is a tan or lightish brown color, according to the study.
—Irene Wright, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
Verb
By the late 1980s, other politicians had clawed voters away from Congress by courting specific groups — members of a caste, say, or as with the B.J.P. and Hindus, of a religion.
—Samanth Subramanian Vikas Adam Tanya Pérez Zachary Mouton, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
Punching, biting, clawing, freezing and other attacks are employed by the beasts as well.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
The Aztecs clawed their way back from a 14-point deficit in the second half against Florida Atlantic and were now one play away from making history as the first San Diego State team to make it to the NCAA tournament championship game.
—Jordan Ruttert, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
As temperatures rise in late April, pale, red-eyed cicada nymphs begin clawing pinky-sized holes in the ground, preparing for their grand May entrance.
—Celia Ford, WIRED, 28 Mar. 2024
In the summer of 1994, very few people expected Rwanda to survive as an independent state, let alone bounce back and become an inspiration to people clawing their way out of violence and trauma around the world.
—Jonathan M. Hansen, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024
Dallas never relented and clawed within two, but the Warriors nonetheless narrowly escaped.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
This clever brooch is meant to claw at the side of a lapel in a nod to a singular apendage of the maison‘s perennial mascot, the Panthère.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2024
The only way to begin clawing his way back is to start making payments on time (and, ideally, in full), as well as only using about 10 to 30 percent of his available credit each month.
—The Enquirer, 27 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'claw.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near claw
Cite this Entry
“Claw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/claw. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
claw
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a sharp usually slender and curved nail on the toe of an animal (as a cat or bird)
b
: a sharp curved extension especially if at the end of a limb (as of an insect)
also
: one of the pincerlike organs on some limbs of arthropods (as a lobster or scorpion)
2
: something that resembles a claw in shape or use
claw
2 of 2 verb
: to scratch, seize, or dig with or as if with claws
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