as in decided
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 clinched
With the win, Byron Nelson (6-2, 5-1) has all but clinched a spot in the playoffs.
—
Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2025
As Decision Day progressed, the goals came fast and furious, playoff berths were clinched, and home field advantage was secured.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Then, earlier this month at the Simmons Bank Open, Bauchou all but clinched his dream of making the PGA Tour by winning the tournament and sending him skyrocketing up the Korn Ferry Tour rankings with just one week remaining in the season.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Messi clinched the Golden Boot trophy with 29 goals in 28 games this season.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
Elder took the second set 6-1, which clinched the match against seventh grader Emily Leviton, a victory that gave Mayo a glimpse of their third crown in three years.
—Andrew Cornelius, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
In their inaugural season, the team defied expectations and clinched a playoff berth, energizing fans across California and beyond.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 21 Oct. 2025
While the Toronto Blue Jays clinched a return to the World Series on Monday, beating the Seattle Mariners 4-3 in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, Bo Bichette has waited patiently for his moment.
—Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Rocco Cerasuolo and Teddy Palm scored the goals as Reading clinched a state tournament berth with a 2-1 Middlesex League win over Lexington.
—Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2025
As Decision Day progressed, the goals came fast and furious, playoff berths were clinched, and home field advantage was secured.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Then, earlier this month at the Simmons Bank Open, Bauchou all but clinched his dream of making the PGA Tour by winning the tournament and sending him skyrocketing up the Korn Ferry Tour rankings with just one week remaining in the season.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Messi clinched the Golden Boot trophy with 29 goals in 28 games this season.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
Elder took the second set 6-1, which clinched the match against seventh grader Emily Leviton, a victory that gave Mayo a glimpse of their third crown in three years.
—Andrew Cornelius, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
In their inaugural season, the team defied expectations and clinched a playoff berth, energizing fans across California and beyond.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 21 Oct. 2025
While the Toronto Blue Jays clinched a return to the World Series on Monday, beating the Seattle Mariners 4-3 in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, Bo Bichette has waited patiently for his moment.
—Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Rocco Cerasuolo and Teddy Palm scored the goals as Reading clinched a state tournament berth with a 2-1 Middlesex League win over Lexington.
—Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinched
Verb
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Zettel then decided renting a hotel room for the night would be too expensive and let her daughter sleep in her car instead.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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After struggling to get pregnant again, the couple decided to expand their family through surrogacy.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Steve Coogan has settled a libel claim over 2022’s The Lost King after a university academic sued over his depiction in the film.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
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Thousands of motorists across Texas were warned of potentially hazardous driving conditions as fog settled across the Lone Star state on Monday morning.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The company later determined that the metal pieces came form a conveyor belt used in the production process.—
Amber Brenza,
Health,
27 Oct. 2025
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The recall was issued after multiple foodservice customers reported finding metal in frozen chicken breast and thigh products they were served at an establishment, and the company determined the metal originated from a production conveyor belt.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clinched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinched. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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