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
Seattle eventually clinched the NFC title when time ran out on Los Angeles after Puka Nacua's 21-yard grab to try and set the Rams up for a Hail Mary attempt.
—
Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Maria Sødahl’s The Last Resort has clinched the Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film at the 2026 Göteborg Film Festival, which encompasses a prize sum of SEK 400,000, or over $40,000.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 31 Jan. 2026
Senators clinched a deal with just over a day until a partial government shutdown.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
The Marmonte League title could be clinched soon but will likely be decided on Tuesday, Feb 3, at Westlake when the Lions and Warriors meet for their second league matchup.
—Justin Vigil Zuniga, Daily News, 29 Jan. 2026
With one league game remaining, the Raiders (19-8, 5-2) have a chance to finish in a tie for first with the Golden Hawks (22-3, 6-1), who had already clinched at least a share of first coming into the contest.
—Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
Derrick White committed a career-high eight turnovers but clinched the win with a 3-pointer and a steal in the final minutes.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Ball scored 10 points against the Friars and was replaced for Jaylin Stewart, who didn’t fill up the stat sheet but hauled in the rebound that clinched overtime and finished a team-best plus-18 in 27 minutes.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 26 Jan. 2026
This is a big night for the hit Netflix comedy, which clinched three nods, including Best Television Series—Musical or Comedy.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 11 Jan. 2026
Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Maria Sødahl’s The Last Resort has clinched the Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film at the 2026 Göteborg Film Festival, which encompasses a prize sum of SEK 400,000, or over $40,000.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 31 Jan. 2026
Senators clinched a deal with just over a day until a partial government shutdown.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
The Marmonte League title could be clinched soon but will likely be decided on Tuesday, Feb 3, at Westlake when the Lions and Warriors meet for their second league matchup.
—Justin Vigil Zuniga, Daily News, 29 Jan. 2026
With one league game remaining, the Raiders (19-8, 5-2) have a chance to finish in a tie for first with the Golden Hawks (22-3, 6-1), who had already clinched at least a share of first coming into the contest.
—Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
Derrick White committed a career-high eight turnovers but clinched the win with a 3-pointer and a steal in the final minutes.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Ball scored 10 points against the Friars and was replaced for Jaylin Stewart, who didn’t fill up the stat sheet but hauled in the rebound that clinched overtime and finished a team-best plus-18 in 27 minutes.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 26 Jan. 2026
This is a big night for the hit Netflix comedy, which clinched three nods, including Best Television Series—Musical or Comedy.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 11 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinched
Verb
-
These potential legislations could be among several items decided by tight votes.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
2 Feb. 2026
-
The blocky mass of gray concrete that serves as the federal courthouse has been a landmark in downtown Fort Lauderdale since 1979, but its days as a place where cases of national importance are decided are numbered.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
There’s no need to panic — this is very common and typically occurs when dust that has settled on the heating elements burns off.—
Lois K. Solomon,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
-
After their wedding, a tough reality settled in.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After a tall glass of wine, DiGuglielmo called the skater back, determined to talk her out of the comeback.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Both bets remain active, meaning they have not yet been resolved because an outcome has not been determined.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clinched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinched. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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