clench 1 of 2

noun

Definition of clenchnext
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

clench

2 of 2

verb

ˈklench How to pronounce clench (audio)
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of clench
Noun
Brazilian democracy has spent the past three years in a near-permanent state of tension – a full-body clench against an ex-president who refused to accept defeat. — Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 25 Nov. 2025 The Cleveland Guardians beat the Detroit Tigers, 5-4, on Thursday night in Game 4 of the ALDS, tying the series and setting up a clench-your-teeth, hold-your-breath series finale. — Ryan Ford, Freep.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
Anyone who’s seen a movie before will know to clench at Nelson’s close attention to such random and innocent people. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2026 This can lead women to clench their jaws or pelvic muscles, or grind their teeth. — Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for clench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clench
  1. grip
  2. clutch
  3. grasp
  4. hold
  5. grab
Noun
  • The inversion is revealing of why governments have had a hard time coming to grips with the fertility crash.
    — Jesús Fernández-Villaverde, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Since April, voters have ousted Hungary’s Viktor Orban, ended Aleksandar Vucic’s long grip on Serbia and blocked the Bolsonaro family’s return in Brazil.
    — Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of grip
Verb
  • The officer, who did not appear to have backup nearby, is seen struggling to reload his firearm and appeared to be clutching his right arm.
    — Shayna Jacobs, NBC news, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Many clutched their pearls at the teen’s indifference, but the clip went viral as younger audiences embraced his detached demeanor.
    — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of clutch
Noun
  • The movie exudes a startling confidence, at once buoyant and grounded—the kind of assurance that can emerge when a young director’s grasp of the medium, however nascent, is in synch with his feel for his characters and their world.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026
  • And yet, in all three of those games, the Knights were well on their way to a win only to have victory snatched from their grasp.
    — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of grasp
Verb
  • The compact pouch is designed to hold small essentials against your body, and its soft, breathable, skin-friendly fabric is a thoughtful detail for warmer destinations where extra layers aren’t practical.
    — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Through the partnership, ForgiveCo will acquire and permanently eliminate $1 million in medical debt held by local veterans.
    — Garrett Behanna, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of hold
Verb
  • In a separate incident Sunday, Basabe flagged down police to report that a parking garage employee grabbed and threw his phone to the ground, the report shows.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Testing spoons stored in a manner where lip contact surface contamination could happen when employee grabs the spoon from container.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of grab

Browse Nearby Words

clemently
clench
clenched
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Cite this Entry

“Clench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clench. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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