clinches 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of clinch

clinches

2 of 2

noun

plural of clinch

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 clinches
Verb
Because the Hawks need the arena later that night, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that if Golden State actually clinches the championship Thursday, there may not be enough time for a proper celebration on the State Farm Arena floor. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026 Picture A’ja Wilson making the layup that clinches the gold medal for the United States at next month’s FIBA World Cup. — Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 In a men’s semifinal match, Roger Federer outlasts Juan Martin del Potro in a 19-17 final set and clinches his first Olympic singles medal. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026 If its price retreats from these incredible heights by before SpaceX clinches the deal, that number will rise. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 19 June 2026 The venue, home to the NBA's New York Knicks, could also be the site of an impromptu championship celebration if the team clinches the NBA Finals. — Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 13 June 2026 Whether the team clinches the title or not, this piece of merch has cemented its place in the city's style canon for 2026. — Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026 Or, no, that is Jeremy Strong, because Strong is simply too recognizable to physically disappear into the role of Zuckerberg, but the voice clinches it. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 10 June 2026 San Jose landing a Professional Women’s Hockey League franchise clinches an upgrade for the Bay Area after a pair of high-profile pro sports departures from the region. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 19 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinches
Verb
  • For a holiday park, a glamping site or a dealer, the wall system decides how much work the buildings will need after the first guests arrive.
    — Rolanas Kutra, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • But the commodity is not what decides whether the law reaches you.
    — Maria Brozman, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Kempe flew the zone while the puck was up for grabs and was spotted by Panarin, who picked the puck off the wall and immediately sent it way ahead to Kempe for an uncontested finish.
    — Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 5 Nov. 2026
  • And heading into the cycle, where more than a third of the chamber was up for grabs, the Senate map appeared to work in their favor.
    — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • For Cabinet or senior officials, OSC refers its findings to the President, who determines disciplinary action.
    — Connor Greene, Time, 1 Nov. 2026
  • This stage determines how engineers distribute major systems throughout the submarine.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • That uneasy feeling settles over the rest of Infinite Now like suffocating humidity.
    — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Tuesday evening weather Northwest winds will gradually diminish Tuesday evening as the atmosphere settles behind the cold front.
    — Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clinches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinches. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster