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
Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
The New York Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals 130-93 in Game 4 on Monday, clinching their first trip to the NBA Finals since 1999.
—CBS News, 26 May 2026
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
The Padres will at some point clinch a playoff berth, perhaps as soon as tomorrow.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clinch
Verb
So, yes, Canada should feel pretty good about itself for clinching the top spot in Group B and not losing a single game.
—Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
The New York Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals 130-93 in Game 4 on Monday, clinching their first trip to the NBA Finals since 1999.
—CBS News, 26 May 2026
Noun
As Red Sox players straggled into their clubhouse to prepare the afternoon’s game, the atmosphere was both triumphant and, by their manager’s own admission, feeling the after-effects of Friday night’s clinch celebrations.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
The Padres will at some point clinch a playoff berth, perhaps as soon as tomorrow.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clinch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinch
Verb
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Thai diver Kengkard Bongkawong told CNN that while the goal is still to rescue the group, an upcoming meeting will decide whether the team should first work together to evacuate them or if the rescuers should split into two groups, with one continuing the search for those unaccounted for.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
Hulst and Toomey decided to withdraw from the mile at the State meet.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Noun
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Lindsay Lohan gives her costar Shailene Woodley a big hug on set for Count My Lies in New York City on June 8.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
-
Swift just gave Ben Stiller a hug and shook hands with some fans.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Serpell revels in all of the complications and contradictions of Toni Morrison, treating her subject with both reverence and even some skepticism and never settling for the easy conclusion.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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The package sets aside $875 million, including roughly $310 million from the state and $565 million in federal funding, to settle the issue.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
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But Kyiv’s early embrace of drones, and the mass-industrialization of their accuracy and power, has begun to exact a defining toll on Moscow.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
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The release of the funds was a signal of Brussels’ embrace of the new government in Budapest after the 16-year tenure of Viktor Orbán, who was allied with Russia and antagonized the EU.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
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But despite securing a conviction, investigators spent decades trying to determine the identity of the teenage victim.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2026
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Residents and festivalgoers were urged to avoid the area and expect a significant law enforcement presence as officers continue their search and investigators work to determine what led to the shooting.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
7 June 2026
Noun
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But by the end of the day, the Allies had gained a foothold.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
3 June 2026
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Even communities that have struggled, like Hayward or Martinez, have begun to gain a foothold with their downtowns emphasizing their unique histories, businesses or locations.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
2 June 2026
Noun
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José Caballero doubled in the fifth and scored when Paul Goldschmidt lofted an opposite-field RBI single to right just in front of Wilyer Abreu, who nearly made a sliding, backhand grab.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
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Remarkably, bee after bee in the video grabs on to the little ball and starts moving it around.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
7 June 2026
Noun
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The stock spent the back half of 2025 in a steady uptrend, got hit hard in February when the Iran war sell-off dragged everything down, and found its footing right on the 200-day moving average near $180.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
8 June 2026
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Volunteering at your destination is another natural way to meet residents on equal footing rather than as a tourist passing through.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinch. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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