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
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Recent Examples of clench
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
Rick Maese, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2026
As the comedy progresses, its buoyant tone clenches and darkens, and the plot bends and lurches, in ways that, to me, felt unnecessarily punitive toward both Haru and the audience.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for 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
The Chinese speedskater leaped into the air, fists clenched, joy bursting from every pore.
—Rick Maese, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2026
As the comedy progresses, its buoyant tone clenches and darkens, and the plot bends and lurches, in ways that, to me, felt unnecessarily punitive toward both Haru and the audience.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clench
Noun
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But in many areas beyond the capital region, even a fragile peace is out of reach, and the grip of the war is tightening.—
Emmanuel Akinwotu,
NPR,
15 Apr. 2026
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Berlin — As one European nationalist party saw its grip on power end abruptly in Hungary over the weekend, another was riding a wave of popularity that is strengthening its hold on German politics.—
Sebastian Shukla,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Flowers surrounded the baby girl's tiny casket inside the Lawrence Woodward Funeral Home in Crown Heights, as family members clutched each other and said their final goodbyes.—
Naveen Dhaliwal,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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Such desperate attempts at grandiosity evoke empty vanity, clutching at physical monuments to prove a greatness that history has not yet conferred.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The duo got closer and closer to everyone involved, hoping to garner enough evidence to bring in the police and free the women and kids from Bateman's grasp.—
Derek Lawrence,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Apr. 2026
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The third was a two-out double Oneil Cruz grounded just inside the bag and just beyond Machado’s grasp that scored both runners.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Children sat on steps draped in American flags, holding photos of children killed in the war.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Data obtained from the license plates cannot be held for more than 21 days unless there is an active criminal investigation, officials said.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Cynthia proceeds to call Porsha, and Angela grabs the phone, executing an amazing assist like her baller husband, and forces Porsha to speak directly to Kelli.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
13 Apr. 2026
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As soon as the door opens, Sadie jumps up to greet Koch before darting off to grab a toy, bounding back toward Koch with her tail still wagging.—
Shafiq Najib,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clench. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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