as in clutching
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 clenching
While not everyone experiences such dramatic effects, experts say stress, clenching and even past trauma can contribute to TMJ issues.
—
Nicole Bennett,
AJC.com,
22 May 2026
The Beloved, his first film in Competition at Cannes, is an incredible achievement that builds on all those films and leaves them standing in the dust, hitting all the same tense throat-clenching beats but somehow transcending genre altogether.
—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
16 May 2026
In the premiere, Rue and Faye run drugs across the border, clenching their butts to hold bags of fentanyl in their digestive tract for as long as possible.
—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
13 Apr. 2026
Protect against teeth grinding, clenching and enamel damage with custom dental solutions from ClearClub.
—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Melvin Council stood amid a crowd of his Kansas teammates, clenching a black belt in his fist.
—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
25 Jan. 2026
Wole faced fixedly forward, both fists clenching the steering wheel.
—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
Nicole Bennett,
AJC.com,
22 May 2026
The Beloved, his first film in Competition at Cannes, is an incredible achievement that builds on all those films and leaves them standing in the dust, hitting all the same tense throat-clenching beats but somehow transcending genre altogether.
—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
16 May 2026
In the premiere, Rue and Faye run drugs across the border, clenching their butts to hold bags of fentanyl in their digestive tract for as long as possible.
—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
13 Apr. 2026
Protect against teeth grinding, clenching and enamel damage with custom dental solutions from ClearClub.
—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Melvin Council stood amid a crowd of his Kansas teammates, clenching a black belt in his fist.
—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
25 Jan. 2026
Wole faced fixedly forward, both fists clenching the steering wheel.
—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clenching
Verb
-
The hosts discuss Sorsby as a product of both his own mistakes and opportunistic pearl clutching among college sports leaders.
-
Scotland’s Tartan Army, thousands strong in kilts and clutching replicas of the gold World Cup Trophy, marched into Miami ahead of Wednesday evening’s World Cup game against Brazil at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Verb
-
The current leadership uncertainty gripping the ruling Labour Party is arguably just the latest iteration of the turmoil that Brexit inserted into the heart of British politics.
-
The velvet coating does a better job of gripping slippery fabrics and delicate garments than plastic or metal alternatives.
Verb
-
After holding the majors’ worst record for much of the current season, the Angels are tied for last in the AL standings at 34-48 heading into their game against the Athletics on Friday night at Angel Stadium.
-
According to Atwal, the Gartner analyst, the rising costs could lead to consumers holding onto their devices longer, leading to fundamental changes to upgrade cycles for products such as smartphones.
Verb
-
The video then shows the woman throwing Martinez to the ground, grabbing her by the hair and repeatedly attacking her as bystanders try to step in and help.
-
According to Sangrio, the video appears to show Matthew Cox, O'Toole's then-attendant, striking the 60-year-old with a broom, punching him and grabbing him by the neck.
Cite this Entry
“Clenching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clenching. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
