clench 1 of 2

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

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
Verb
Its stern warnings are scary and uncomfortable--the headaches, indigestion, muscle spasms, body aches, clenched teeth or knots in your chest. Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025 Certain SSRIs, SNRIs and tricyclic antidepressants have been linked with grinding and clenching the teeth, Schultz says. Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 1 June 2025 No discomfort arises from keeping the mouth clenched on a snorkel mouthpiece, and often, this type of mask will not fog as readily. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 20 May 2025 Nat Phillips’ celebrations — mid-air and fists clenched — late in the 1-0 win away to Hull seven days earlier spoke of a mood transformed after much of the campaign had been spent fearing an immediate return to League One. Nick Miller, New York Times, 3 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for clench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clench
Noun
  • Hard tires last longer—saving pit stops—but have less grip, and result in slower lap times.
    Sean Gregory, Time, 27 June 2025
  • The top three contributors to hydroplaning are: Vehicle speed - When a vehicle's speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • News purists clutched their pearls, but the audience welcomed it.
    Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
  • Here’s 10 minutes of him being clutch in the 2011 championship run.
    Zach Harper, New York Times, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • Would Haliburton be sidelined if this was January, in the dog days of a regular season grind, instead of June when a championship is within grasp?
    Shane Young, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
  • Washington realizes that Moore hasn’t even fully grown into his body yet, let alone having a full grasp of the game at this level.
    Dhani Joseph, New York Times, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • GoTo also holds a 22% stake in Bank Jago, an Indonesian digital bank.
    Lionel Lim, Fortune, 22 June 2025
  • How many cases are there in North Dakota? North Dakota, which hadn’t seen measles since 2011, was up to 34 cases as of June 6, but has held steady since.
    DEVI SHASTRI, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025
Verb
  • In the few months since its launch, JD.com has grabbed 7.5% of China’s food-delivery market after its daily meal orders reached 20 million on May 13, according to a May 14 research note from Blue Lotus Capital Advisors.
    Yue Wang, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • To help keep your home safe (and know when your Prime Day packages arrive), grab a Ring Battery Doorbell with Indoor Cam for under $150.
    Laura Lu, Parents, 17 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Clench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clench. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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