as in clutched
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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Recent Examples of clenched
On April 23, LeCroy remembered, Crews caught a sinking liner, held his glove in the air, clenched his fist and screamed into his glove.
—
Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 19 May 2026
Tuanzebe—born in Bunia, raised in Rochdale—is sprinting toward the corner flag, fists clenched at his waist, triumphant.
—Franklin Leonard, Vanity Fair, 14 May 2026
Knives are clutched, teeth are clenched, and a desperate Russian ex-pat yells loud enough for their long-dead ancestors to hear all the way back in the motherland.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Jordan clenched the cup so tightly her knuckles turned white.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
Participants alternately clenched their toes (rock), spread them apart (paper) and crossed the big toe over the others (scissors).
—Lindsey Leake, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026
Among many Niger Deltans, there’s a mixture of ignorance, nonchalance, and clenched resignation around the industry’s environmental dangers, which take a back seat as folks get on with the business of everyday survival.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
The Chinese speedskater leaped into the air, fists clenched, joy bursting from every pore.
—Rick Maese, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2026
Don’t leave home without a rose clenched between your teeth.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 17 Jan. 2026
Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 19 May 2026
Tuanzebe—born in Bunia, raised in Rochdale—is sprinting toward the corner flag, fists clenched at his waist, triumphant.
—Franklin Leonard, Vanity Fair, 14 May 2026
Knives are clutched, teeth are clenched, and a desperate Russian ex-pat yells loud enough for their long-dead ancestors to hear all the way back in the motherland.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Jordan clenched the cup so tightly her knuckles turned white.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
Participants alternately clenched their toes (rock), spread them apart (paper) and crossed the big toe over the others (scissors).
—Lindsey Leake, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026
Among many Niger Deltans, there’s a mixture of ignorance, nonchalance, and clenched resignation around the industry’s environmental dangers, which take a back seat as folks get on with the business of everyday survival.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
The Chinese speedskater leaped into the air, fists clenched, joy bursting from every pore.
—Rick Maese, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2026
Don’t leave home without a rose clenched between your teeth.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 17 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clenched
Verb
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Her father ran onto the court to check on her as the American player clutched her injured ACL and meniscus.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
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The bride clutched a casual bouquet of yellow and white cut flowers.—
Kim Willis,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Alansari was gripped by the tournament and attended 23 games in total, including the final, while Alyafei treated his family to tickets.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
-
As the midnight adjournment deadline approached on the final night of Illinois’ 1988 spring legislative session, a sense of pressure gripped the Statehouse.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clenched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clenched. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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