clinch

verb

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\ ˈklinch

clinched; clinching; clinches

Definition of clinch

(Entry 1 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : clench sense 3

2a : 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

3a : to make final or irrefutable : settle that clinched the argument

b : to assure the winning of scored a touchdown to clinch the game

intransitive verb

1 : to hold an opponent (as in boxing) at close quarters with one or both arms

2 : to hold fast or firmly

clinch

noun

Definition of clinch (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : a fastening by means of a clinched nail, rivet, or bolt also : the clinched part of a nail, rivet, or bolt

2 archaic : pun

3 : an act or instance of clinching in boxing

4 : embrace

Clinch

geographical name

\ ˈklinch

Definition of Clinch (Entry 3 of 3)

river about 300 miles (480 kilometers) long in southwestern Virginia and eastern Tennessee flowing southwest into the Tennessee River

Other Words from clinch Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about clinch

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Synonyms for clinch

Synonyms: Verb

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: Verb The Suns can clinch the season series and the head-to-head tiebreaker with a win. — Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, "Phoenix Suns: Look back at outlasting Rockets, ahead to major back-to-back tests vs. Jazz, Clippers," 6 Apr. 2021 The Crimson Tide can clinch outright with a win over the Bulldogs or an Arkansas loss. — Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, "No. 6 Alabama-Mississippi State live stream (2/27): How to watch online, TV info, time," 27 Feb. 2021 Alabama starts a two-game road swing with a visit to second-place Arkansas on Wednesday night and can clinch the title outright with a win. — John Zenor, ajc, "Shackelford's 27 helps No. 8 Alabama hold off Vandy, 82-78," 20 Feb. 2021 The Browns would clinch their first playoff berth since 2002 with a victory over the Steelers. — Nate Ulrich, USA TODAY, "Browns close facility after another player, assistant coach test positive for COVID-19," 31 Dec. 2020 The Bills can clinch the No. 2 seed with a win over the Dolphins, but under the new playoff format, that no longer comes with a first-round bye. — Baltimore Sun Staff, baltimoresun.com, "NFL playoff scenarios for Week 17: It’s win-and-in for Ravens, Browns, Dolphins and Titans in AFC," 29 Dec. 2020 The Cardinals can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the 49ers and a Bears’ loss or tie at Jacksonville on Sunday. — oregonlive, "San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals (12/26/2020): Score updates, odds, time, TV channel, how to watch online," 26 Dec. 2020 Cleveland can clinch its first playoff berth since 2002 by winning and having Baltimore, Miami or Indianapolis lose. — New York Times, "N.F.L. Week 16 Predictions: Our Picks Against the Spread," 24 Dec. 2020 The Steelers can clinch a playoff berth with a win and losses by the Raiders and the Dolphins. — Barry Wilner, Star Tribune, "Mahomes vs. Brady spices up Thanksgiving holiday week," 25 Nov. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Late Saturday night, after the Dodgers routed Colorado and made their Sunday clinch of their fourth consecutive division title a near formality, Justin Turner and Adrian Gonzalez exchanged text messages. — Los Angeles Times, "Greatest moments in Dodger history No. 9: Vin Scully’s final game at Dodger Stadium," 2 Apr. 2021 The Lopes clinch at least a share of the title with a split. — Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, "Grand Canyon basketball can clinch first WAC regular-season title this weekend against Utah Valley," 5 Mar. 2021 Here’s how crazy this thing is this year, Boise State and San Jose State could both clinch spots by NOT playing because both teams would then finish undefeated. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Aztecs’ chances for bowl berth, Mountain West title game — dim and dimmer," 3 Dec. 2020 Yelich, the former MVP who hit .205 this year after winning the last two NL batting titles, and the Brewers happily posed for a team picture in their playoff-clinch T-shirts on the Busch Stadium field. — Ben Walker, orlandosentinel.com, "Pandemic playoffs: Brewers, Astros in despite losing records," 28 Sep. 2020 But if Democrats win the two run-off seats in Georgia and clinch control of both the House and Senate, some economists believe that could mean a bigger deal early next year, and possibly follow-up stimulus legislation later in the year. — Anne Sraders, Fortune, "Will another $1,200 stimulus check ever come? Here’s what we know," 11 Nov. 2020 The variety of rules in other battlegrounds means a guessing game as to when either candidate might hit critical mass and clinch. — Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, "For nation on edge, uncertainty hangs over Election Night," 1 Nov. 2020 Yelich, the former MVP who hit .205 this year after winning the last two NL batting titles, and the Brewers happily posed for a team picture in their playoff-clinch T-shirts on the Busch Stadium field. — Ben Walker, orlandosentinel.com, "Pandemic playoffs: Brewers, Astros in despite losing records," 28 Sep. 2020 Yelich, the former MVP who hit .205 this year after winning the last two NL batting titles, and the Brewers happily posed for a team picture in their playoff-clinch T-shirts on the Busch Stadium field. — Ben Walker, orlandosentinel.com, "Pandemic playoffs: Brewers, Astros in despite losing records," 28 Sep. 2020

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