as in grips
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 clutches
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 clenches
Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
In a similar way, a man who is defiant stiffens his neck, squares his shoulders, lowers his brows, and clenches his fists with his knuckles forward.
—Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
Zonal reinforcements fend off unfriendly rocks, stumps and features, and a Vibram Megagrip sole clenches all kinds of slippery, unbalanced raw ground.
—New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2025
As Solène leaves, Rainbeau clenches her fists, talking herself out of hitting Solène and remembering the way disputes got resolved in her family.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
When the sky darkens, her stomach clenches.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
In a similar way, a man who is defiant stiffens his neck, squares his shoulders, lowers his brows, and clenches his fists with his knuckles forward.
—Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
Zonal reinforcements fend off unfriendly rocks, stumps and features, and a Vibram Megagrip sole clenches all kinds of slippery, unbalanced raw ground.
—New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2025
As Solène leaves, Rainbeau clenches her fists, talking herself out of hitting Solène and remembering the way disputes got resolved in her family.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clenches
Noun
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They’re made with durable aluminum alloy and have cork and foam hand grips to keep you comfortable while climbing.—
Anna Fiorentino,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Oct. 2025
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Crews discovered fissures in the bedrock that required repair and struggled to find grips strong enough to hold cars on the steep grade.—
Michael Wells,
Kansas City Star,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The older woman clutches her top towel closer to her.—
Weike Wang,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The Hurricanes needed that to happen after the game nearly slipped out of their grasps.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
1 Sep. 2025
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Halakhic rulings on divorce, medical emergencies, or conversion involve nuance that no present-day model grasps.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Polls show Sherrill in a tight race in New Jersey, while Spanberger holds a lead in Virginia.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
26 Oct. 2025
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Broncos defensive tackle Eyioma Uwazurike was given a year-long suspension in 2023 by the NFL for betting on games, and the team holds presentations on gambling every season, head coach Sean Payton said Friday.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Waterproof cases might have durable clips or clasps.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
17 Oct. 2025
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Zippers and clasps are built to stand up to daily use—mine has even encountered a few rainstorms—without losing shine or functionality.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After Grace quotes Zooey Deschanel's character, Thames grabs her face and kisses her out of the frame.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
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Another strong Lions performance could mark a turning point this season where Detroit grabs control of the division and doesn't look back.—
Nick Meyer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clenches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clenches. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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