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
With every stride, the leader breathes into the whistle clenched between his lips, producing a noise like the courting sigh of some prairie bird.
—
Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
The result was a tension-release rally in a market that wasn’t all that clenched-up to begin with.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
The result was a tension-release rally in a market that wasn’t all that clenched-up to begin with.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clenched
Verb
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Every minute, every second, has to be spent with one’s device clutched in one’s hand.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 Sep. 2025
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Children as young as pre-K ran for cover, dove beneath pews or clutched their classmates as teachers shielded them from the barrage, acting instinctively to protect them.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The extraordinary media interest in the case, which gripped Australia for much of the 10-week trial, had been traumatic for the family, Erin Patterson's estranged husband Simon Patterson - who was invited to the lunch but declined - said at the same hearing.—
Alasdair Pal,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
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Let’s say, a friend of mine, on her walk back from her barista job in South Philly, began to think about a certain someone from her past who had once gripped her heart.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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 Sep. 2025.
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