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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

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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
As fate would have it, pitcher JR Ritchie, shown throwing during spring training workouts in February, will take the mound on a day the Braves can clinch a postseason berth. — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 16 Sep. 2026 The goal Dowman scored against Everton last season, to clinch a 2-0 victory in the closing minutes, would have been special had it been scored by some transient loanee who had come and gone within weeks. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Noun
Pocket exchanges, dirty boxing in the clinch and consistent pressure to the body added up faster than Diaz's volume could compensate for, and a cut over Diaz's right eye opened up early in Round 1. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026 Heat clinches winning record In moving to 42-39, Miami won for only the fourth time in its past 14 games and assured itself of a winning record for the 19th time in 26 seasons this century. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026 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
  • With a conference showdown and bitter rivalry looming next week against Geneva, Batavia decided to open Friday night’s game with some fireworks.
    — Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • If there's a disagreement about who did what, a judge will be asked to decide.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of decide
Noun
  • The roommates count down together before sharing one last group hug outside the OG house, recreating the kind of emotional farewell that closed out the original Jersey Shore.
    — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The two were the only ones in the photos in which they were captured appearing to hold hands, hug, and, in one instance, sit in a pool together.
    — Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of hug
Verb
  • After the Sox scored six runs in the first inning and led 8-2 after the third, most fans settled in for a postgame concert by country music star Cole Swindell.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Gently tap pan and wiggle pan to settle batters into an even layer.
    — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of settle
Noun
  • After Alvarez rounded the bases, the two met at home plate and shared a long embrace before walking back to the dugout.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The production was full of nostalgia for an imagined past when the small screen was more ascendant and apolitical, with tributes to Charlie’s Angels and Dolly Parton shirking any embrace of the form’s progressive history.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of embrace
Verb
  • The suit, brought by 13 named and four anonymous researchers, is seeking to halt the process of searching applications and current grants for specific terms to determine if they should be rejected.
    — Anil Oza, STAT, 17 Sep. 2026
  • That can help pilots determine a target’s range more quickly.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of determine
Noun
  • However, Anheuser-Busch Inbev's strengthening foothold in non-beer beverage categories could drive shares higher, according to Deutsche Bank.
    — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Ronson uses Chism’s guilelessness to show how unexpected and profound the pitfalls can be for anyone looking to find a foothold in the new world.
    — Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of foothold
Noun
  • Still, if Curl doesn’t make a clutch diving grab as the ball nosedived toward the grass, that’s merely an incomplete pass that no one remembers.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Armstrong continued to bolster his case for NL MVP, drawing a four-pitch walk, scoring twice and making a leaping grab at the center-field wall to rob Miami’s Heriberto Hernández of a potential extra-base hit in the sixth.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of grab
Noun
  • The stock was a pandemic darling that cratered, went through a messy acquisition saga, had activist investors at the door, and churned sideways while the rest of biotech tried to find its footing.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Economic growth has also been on solid footing, though an increasing share of it has been driven by red-hot spending on AI — some of which is now being propelled by credit.
    — Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 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 19 Sep. 2026.

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