as in clutched
to have or keep in one's hands
clenched a tissue in his hands as he told his story of misfortune
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 clenched
As the ball landed safely on the other side of the left field fence at Nationals Park on Monday, Dylan Crews clenched his fists and let out a scream.
—
Danielle Allentuck, Washington Post, 16 June 2026
An accompanying photograph shows Glimcher holding the viewer’s gaze, his right hand outstretched on the desk, clenched in a tight fist.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 4 June 2026
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
Danielle Allentuck, Washington Post, 16 June 2026
An accompanying photograph shows Glimcher holding the viewer’s gaze, his right hand outstretched on the desk, clenched in a tight fist.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 4 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clenched
Verb
-
Over about 20 minutes, Swift crafted a portrait of a record-breaking artist who is two decades into a career that has enabled her to work with so many collaborators (including Liz Rose, who was in attendance and who clutched Swift’s hands when All Too Well played over the speakers).—
P. Claire Dodson,
Vogue,
12 June 2026
-
The 34-year-old Eriksen clutched his chest with both hands in an off-the-ball action before dropping to the ground in the 65th minute of Denmark’s international friendly against Ukraine in Odense, Denmark, on Sunday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Ice skating’s governing body is gliding into a presidential election Friday, free of the turmoil that just gripped its Olympic sibling skiing.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
-
Another gripped a yellow stress ball throughout his testimony.—
Stepheny Price , Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
9 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
-
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 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
