clinch 1 of 2

verb

ˈklinch How to pronounce clinch (audio)
Definition of clinchnext
as in to decide
to make final, definite, or beyond dispute the rain clinched the matter: we would have the party indoors

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

clinch

2 of 2

noun

as in hug

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 clinch
Verb
The royal siblings were animated fans in the stands and erupted in cheers when Carlos Alcaraz of Spain clinched the win. — Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 12 July 2026 Gabriel Arias had three hits for the Guardians, who clinched the series after winning the opener 3-2 on Friday. — ABC News, 11 July 2026
Noun
By virtue of their relative scarcity—there have been eight empty-the-tank outings since the century began—every Game 7 is an unqualified treat, but the Dodgers’ clinch was one for the ages. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Nov. 2025 Schneider will hand the ball from reliever to reliever hoping to tight-walk to a road clinch. — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for clinch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinch
  1. decide
  2. hug
  3. settle
  4. embrace
  5. determine
  6. foothold
  7. grab
  8. footing
Verb
  • Locals have spotted groups of people in Korea jerseys huddled together, trying to decide what to order at In-N-Out.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • This World Cup, a bunch of people decided to gamble millions on whether soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo would cry during a match.
    — Jon Sarlin, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of decide
Noun
  • After the performance, Moore clapped and embraced the girls in a group hug.
    — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 10 July 2026
  • Mya, Ryan Destiny and Chloe Bailey share a hug at the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture in New Orleans on July 5.
    — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026
Definition of hug
Verb
  • Gendron said his ancestors were among the first outsiders to settle the island in the 1700s, when three brothers, fur traders all, left Canada and followed the Mississippi south.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • The space is cozy and laid back, with an atmosphere that encourages guests to settle in for a drink or two.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of settle
Noun
  • Unlike its more exclusive neighbor properties, Daunt’s feels like a warm embrace and a breath of fresh air at the same time.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
  • Moving employees up not out Like many executives, Bozeman is at pains to say his company’s embrace of AI isn’t about replacing human workers.
    — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 14 July 2026
Definition of embrace
Verb
  • In the autopsy, the medical examiner determined that Bruneau was strangled sometime during the midmorning.
    — Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
  • The inmate also had been placed on a state hospital hold while the courts determined competency to stand trial.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of determine
Noun
  • The discovery closes the last major gap in the species' Northern Hemisphere range and gives researchers a rare chance to watch an invasive species gain a foothold in a new ecosystem.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 15 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, YouTube viewing on television surpassed viewing on phones last year as the streamer cemented its foothold in home video consumption, the video platform's CEO Neal Mohan said in 2025.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 13 July 2026
Definition of foothold
Noun
  • Both teams’ stars came to play with top spot in Group K up for grabs, with the flair and technical quality on display making for a compelling watch with sweeping moves and 37 shots.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • In a battle of contrasting styles, Colombia takes on Ghana with a place in the Round of 16 up for grabs.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Definition of grab
Noun
  • For a surging Red Sox club finally finding its footing more than halfway into the season, trading Contreras would be a massive blow.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 9 July 2026
  • During a drill, Bedard lost his footing and fell into the boards.
    — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2026
Definition of footing

Browse Nearby Words

climes
clinch
clinched
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Cite this Entry

“Clinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinch. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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