clutch 1 of 3

clutch

2 of 3

noun (2)

clutch

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word clutch different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of clutch are grab, grasp, seize, snatch, and take. While all these words mean "to get hold of by or as if by catching up with the hand," clutch suggests avidity or anxiety in seizing or grasping and may imply less success in holding.

clutching her purse

How do grab and snatch relate to one another, in the sense of clutch?

Grab implies more roughness or rudeness than snatch.

grabbed roughly by the arm

When can grasp be used instead of clutch?

The words grasp and clutch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, grasp stresses a laying hold so as to have firmly in possession.

grasp the handle and pull

In what contexts can seize take the place of clutch?

While in some cases nearly identical to clutch, seize implies a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of something tangible or an apprehending of something fleeting or elusive when intangible.

seized the suspect

How are the words snatch and seize related as synonyms of clutch?

Snatch suggests more suddenness or quickness but less force than seize.

snatched a doughnut and ran

Where would take be a reasonable alternative to clutch?

The words take and clutch can be used in similar contexts, but take is a general term applicable to any manner of getting something into one's possession or control.

take some salad from the bowl

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 clutch
Noun
Streep wore a vinyl trench coat from the SS25 runway collection, with a lamé animalier shirt, slim-fit trousers, a leopard print belt, a leopard print faux fur Marlene clutch and green pumps. Andrew McGowan, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025 The strap is detachable, so it can be worn as a belt bag during the day and then transform into an upscale clutch for a fancy dinner in the evening, and the pouch offers enough space for your phone, keys, and other small essentials for a day on the go. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
Tatum clutched his ankle and writhed in agony on the hardwood of Madison Square Garden before being wheeled to the locker room, head in hands. Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025 Don't clutch your pearls too soon, because the electromagnetic radiation Tesla EVs emit is non-ionizing. Charles Singh, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for clutch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clutch
Verb
  • The organization focuses on the big disasters that often grip the headlines, such as wildfires, floods, and hurricanes – but also offers information about preparing for winter storms, tsunamis, tornados, lightning, hail and extreme heat.
    Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • It’s measured by gripping a handheld dynamometer.
    Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • When the sky darkens, her stomach clenches.
    Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Wole faced fixedly forward, both fists clenching the steering wheel.
    David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Republicans balked, accusing Democrats of holding the government hostage by standing in the way of continued federal funding unless their health-care demands are met.
    Kevin Breuninger,Sam Meredith, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • While Avatar 2 will have 90% of the Imax, One Battle After Another will hold onto its Imax 70MM auditoriums.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clutch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clutch. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on clutch

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