as in to decide
to make final, definite, or beyond dispute
the rain clinched the matter: we would have the party indoors
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Recent Examples of clinch
ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Former Major League Baseball star Mark Teixeira clinched the Republican primary to succeed GOP Chip Roy in southwest Texas.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers watched the Philadelphia Phillies clinch the National League East title on their home diamond after losing Monday's matchup in a back-and-forth duel.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clinch
Verb
Wins by Japan and Vietnam would clinch quarterfinal places.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Former Major League Baseball star Mark Teixeira clinched the Republican primary to succeed GOP Chip Roy in southwest Texas.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
The Padres will at some point clinch a playoff berth, perhaps as soon as tomorrow.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers watched the Philadelphia Phillies clinch the National League East title on their home diamond after losing Monday's matchup in a back-and-forth duel.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clinch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinch
Verb
-
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize.—
Staff Reports,
The Providence Journal,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The judge asked Bruns, the government attorney, what standards are used to decide if a reporter poses a security risk.—
Michael Kunzelman,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Higgins, in response, shot out of her seat and pulled him into a hug.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
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While Bassett spoke to media after the match, Rapids forward Darren Yapi interrupted to give Bassett a hug in passing.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When that piece settles, Annacone believes the ceiling could be extremely high.—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Hopes for any stability and settling out, however, have been quickly shaken.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Other songwriters might opt to wring notes of sadness from the whole squad getting hitched, but this one is winking at the listener, signifying the end of his seclusion in Europe and the embrace of fans who haven’t had an audience with him in a long time.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
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The final image of Friday’s game was an embrace between Flagg and Tatum, who Flagg idolized as a kid.—
Mike Curtis,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Since the electronic structure of nickelates involves several energy bands, determining the exact carrier density is difficult, so the Hall coefficient served as a practical way to map how the system evolves.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
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As with any event, the location and the time of year have been the two biggest determining factors for the direction of my dress.—
Alexandra Ditch,
Vogue,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the enlarged vision of the classics slowly taking shape in the American academy, Yanxiao has found an intellectual foothold.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
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She wasn’t dissuaded two years later — and mid-renovation — when a $475 million Target distribution center was announced for the small city, creating an industrial foothold in a mostly agrarian area.—
Zachary Hansen,
AJC.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In a move that signaled the coming power grab, County CEO Michelle Aguirre intervened, keeping Schultz on the payroll to continue managing the very investments Freidenrich was elected to oversee.—
John Seiler,
Oc Register,
8 Mar. 2026
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How well Hoppers does in China is up for grabs.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Gradually, her life regained its footing.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Mar. 2026
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As the two fought for positioning, Toklomati lost his footing, and Biro landed on the back of his leg with his studs.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinch. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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