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

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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 The Chargers were seven days from winning yet one more game, moving to 11-4 and clinching a spot in the playoffs. — Sam McDowell 19, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2026 Los Angeles ultimately came back to win, clinching its second straight championship. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 Perennial contenders despite the payroll constraints, unbothered by their underdog status even after clinching the top seed in the league. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026 The collection includes the clubhouse shirt players wore after clinching the NL East, on-field hats featuring the postseason patch and items such as pennants, pins, magnets, keychains and baseballs. — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026 One day after clinching the AL Central title, the Guardians fielded a makeshift lineup missing several regulars. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026 Sean Burke wasn’t too worried about the Chicago White Sox bouncing back after celebrating clinching a playoff spot Thursday. — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026 Five of the six teams in the AL have been decided, with Tampa Bay and Cleveland clinching the top two seedings and the first-round bye. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026 The Padres tied the Chicago Cubs for the top wild-card spot in the National League at 86-69, a game ahead of Philadelphia, and reduced their magic number for clinching a playoff spot to three. — Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinching
  1. deciding
  2. determining
  3. settling
Verb
  • Moghadam also said that Tehran would study the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement that includes Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey before deciding whether to support it, describing it as a potential instrument for unity.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Florida voters are deciding whether to pass a constitutional amendment that would lower property taxes for some — but not all — homeowners by raising the state’s homestead tax exemption.
    — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of deciding
Verb
  • The findings suggest that while broader insurance inflation is moderating, affordability remains uneven, with regional market conditions and individual circumstances determining how much relief households actually experience.
    — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Those designations can play an important role in determining where certain assets go, so they should generally be reviewed periodically and after major life changes.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of determining
Verb
  • He was educated at Middlebury College, and lived in New York City for 15 years, before settling back on the farm with his wife, Olga, and their children, Fiona and Abraham.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Now, Rupert Murdoch views Fox as a core part of his legacy, as last year’s family trust battle underscores, with his son Lachlan ultimately securing control of the empire after battling (and ultimately settling with) his siblings.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of settling

Browse Nearby Words

clinches
clinching
cling
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Cite this Entry

“Clinching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinching. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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