clinched; clinching; clinches
1
2
a
: 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
3
a
: to make final or irrefutable : settle
that clinched the argument
b
: to assure the winning of
scored a touchdown to clinch the game
1
: to hold an opponent (as in boxing) at close quarters with one or both arms
2
: to hold fast or firmly
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
Data Skrive, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Baseball Hall of Famer Derek Jeter knows all too well the feeling of celebrating on the baseball diamond after clinching a World Series title.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Jayson Stark, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
As Red Sox players straggled into their clubhouse to prepare the afternoon’s game, the atmosphere was both triumphant and, by their manager’s own admission, feeling the after-effects of Friday night’s clinch celebrations.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clinch
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Verb
The Blue Jays have a 3-2 advantage, and will clinch with a victory.
—Data Skrive, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Baseball Hall of Famer Derek Jeter knows all too well the feeling of celebrating on the baseball diamond after clinching a World Series title.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
And a day full of clinches did not happen.
—Jayson Stark, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
As Red Sox players straggled into their clubhouse to prepare the afternoon’s game, the atmosphere was both triumphant and, by their manager’s own admission, feeling the after-effects of Friday night’s clinch celebrations.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clinch
Cite this Entry
“Clinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clinch. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clinch
2 of 2 noun1
: a fastening by means of a clinched nail, rivet, or bolt
2
: the clinched part of a nail, bolt, or rivet
Geographical Definition
Clinch
geographical name
river about 300 miles (480 kilometers) long in southwestern Virginia and eastern Tennessee flowing southwest into the Tennessee River
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