as in grip
the act or manner of holding
fearful that his suitcase might be stolen, he never once relaxed his clench on the handle
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to grip
to have or keep in one's hands
clenched a tissue in his hands as he told his story of misfortune
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of clench
Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 27 June 2025
As detailed in the documentary, many passengers popped Imodium and clenched their cheeks, hoping to escape the ship without having to grab a bag, but four days is a long time.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 25 June 2025
With his arm forming a 90-degree angle at his elbow, Shohei Ohtani clenched his right hand like an umpire signaling an out.
—Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
The width of your clenched first from your thumb to the other side of your hand is about 10 degrees, while the thickness of your little finger accounts for around 1 degree in the night sky.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for clench
Verb
Jake Gyllenhaal’s Jack Twist is Ennis’ foil in every way: loose where Ennis is clenched, hungry where Ennis is stoic.
—Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 27 June 2025
As detailed in the documentary, many passengers popped Imodium and clenched their cheeks, hoping to escape the ship without having to grab a bag, but four days is a long time.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 25 June 2025
With his arm forming a 90-degree angle at his elbow, Shohei Ohtani clenched his right hand like an umpire signaling an out.
—Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
The width of your clenched first from your thumb to the other side of your hand is about 10 degrees, while the thickness of your little finger accounts for around 1 degree in the night sky.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for clench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clench
Noun
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Since achieving independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has spent nearly half its life at war and is currently in the grip of a political crisis, after President Salva Kiir's government ordered the arrest of Vice President Riek Machar in March.—
George Obulutsa,
USA Today,
14 Aug. 2025
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Besides the obvious discomfort, my grip never felt quite secure enough for the large, sweeping mouse movement required for a game like this.—
Kyle Orland,
ArsTechnica,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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However, the worried dad entered the room to find his daughter not in distress but dancing and clutching a lottery ticket, Maryland Lottery officials said in an Aug. 21 news release.—
Daniella Segura,
Miami Herald,
21 Aug. 2025
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The creatures are usually found hanging from phones or handbags—tiny demons haunting our accessories—or clutched as a kind of pet.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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And saying no to a quick deal that Trump supports, with thoughts of a Nobel Peace Prize within his grasp, could push the mercurial US president to lash out, perhaps cutting off crucial intelligence sharing again, or military aid.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
18 Aug. 2025
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The only way to make it to Hell without dying, though, is to master a series of logical paradoxes, and the rules governing this fictional underworld rely on both magic and a faint grasp of Plato and Aristotle.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Tennessee's whiskey and automotive industries hold the biggest stake statewide in President Donald Trump's looming trade war.—
Hadley Hitson,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
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The district will also hold a community listening session from 6 to 7 p.m. Aug. 20 at Wales Elementary School, 219 N. Oak Crest Drive, Wales. Video from an Aug. 14 community listening session can be found at rb.gy/m7iy3s. Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com.—
Alec Johnson,
jsonline.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Four prisoners had to take turns using a bunk bed just to grab a few hours of sleep.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
18 Aug. 2025
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But Sunday, unfortunately for him, slipped away quickly as World No. 1 grabbed his fifth season title.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clench. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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