CLINCHING Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

clinching

verb

present participle of clinch

as in deciding

to make final, definite, or beyond dispute the rain clinched the matter: we would have the party indoors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 clinching For the New York Yankees, clinching their 34th consecutive winning season was a milepost rather than a milestone. — ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026 Carlos Rodon and four relievers held the Padres to three hits as the Yankees (81-61) pulled within a victory of clinching their 34th consecutive winning season. — Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2026 Both drivers were told to stop yo-yoing positions and to instead work together to pull clear of the Red Bull, with the aim of clinching the team’s 1-2 result before settling their own fight at the end. — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026 Betancourt, according to reports, played an integral role in clinching this arrangement. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026 Polymarket handed Vance a 48% chance of clinching the GOP’s nomination and Rubio a 17% chance as of Friday. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 29 Aug. 2026 Barwiolek scores three minutes into the season opener at Waubonsie Valley and then converted a penalty kick in the second half, clinching a 2-1 nonconference victory for Geneva. — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 In Sunday’s series-clinching victory, the 28-year-old Chisholm legged out a key bunt single during the Yankees’ decisive three-run rally in the sixth inning. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026 Hilariously, again, per Fangraphs, the Astros have a 16% chance of clinching a first-round bye with a losing record. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinching

Verb

As a retired fighter, Taylor faces the daunting task of deciding what comes next.

— Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Right to Work laws consistently rank as one of the most important factors business leaders consider when deciding which state to relocate to or expand in, creating new jobs.

— Mark Mix, Sun Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of deciding

Verb

Matsson’s settling in here is more than just a matter of place.

— Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2026
The question of whether Markle really expected Beyoncé to go out of her way to meet her, even as Markle is presumably still settling into her new life back in the UK, remains up in the air.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of settling

Browse Nearby Words

clinches

clinching

cling

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Clinching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinching. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of clinching

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

empirical

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes