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
Wole faced fixedly forward, both fists clenching the steering wheel.
—
David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clenching
Verb
-
But for those who are not clutching their pearls or foaming at the mouth over Fennell’s interpretation of the original text, Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s steamy take on the classic promises to deliver a whole host of method-dressing press tour looks for hungry audiences to obsess over.—
Olivia Allen,
Vogue,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Written by Zach Kanin and directed by Alice Mathias, the commercial featured an emotional farewell that took a darkly comedic turn when Chazmo’s attempt to return home went hilariously wrong — all while clutching a bag of Totino’s Pizza Rolls.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
During the ceremony, the politics of the moment were not ignored, with several award winners using the stage to speak out against the aggressive immigration enforcement that’s gripping the country.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Reyes worries the winter storm gripping North Texas will have serious consequences for her finances.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Judges have criticized them for holding immigrants without bond, deporting them without hearings, and now, forcing their way into private homes without a warrant signed by a judge.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Surveillance footage from outside the store shows the deputy pinning Graham to the ground and holding him by the neck with his legs as Graham continued to fight back.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
SpaceX was also famously involved in funding and operating the headline-grabbing Polaris Dawn crewed commercial mission in September 2024.—
Eric Lagatta,
AZCentral.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Rene Arturo Lujan, 43, admitted to grabbing two girls on June 18 and June 20, 2024, leading to his arrest roughly two hours after the second kidnapping attempt.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clenching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clenching. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
