clincher

noun

clinch·​er ˈklin-chər 

: one that clinches: such as

a

: a decisive fact, argument, act, or remark

the expense was the clincher that persuaded us to give up the enterprise

b

: a tire with flanged beads fitting into the wheel rim

Synonyms of clincher

• factor
• capper
• crusher
• topper
• ace in the hole
• determinant
• coup de grâce

Examples of clincher in a Sentence

the fact that the resort had tennis courts was the clincher in our deciding to stay there

Recent Examples on the Web

Josh Beckett, who was 23 at the time, threw a shutout in the clincher and was named the World Series MVP. —John Parkhurst, Miami Herald, 6 Dec. 2025

Chastain — a Bay Area native born in San Jose who played for Cal — scored the clincher in the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup final against China during a penalty kick shootout. —Mathew Miranda december 5, Sacbee.com, 5 Dec. 2025

When Posa slammed Washington quarterback Demond Williams to the ground for a game-clincher on fourth-and-6, some 70,000 fans erupted as if thawed from a long freeze. —Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025

Fox said Saturday night’s clincher peaked with 31.5 million viewers in the 11:30 p.m. ET quarter-hour. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clincher

• pincher

Kids Definition

clincher

noun

clinch·​er ˈklin-chər 

: one that clinches

especially : a decisive fact or argument