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
In an excerpt in The New Yorker, Tapper and Thompson detail the scene at a pre-fundraiser clutch, as Clooney and Julia Roberts, another co-host, entertained high-dollar donors while waiting for Biden to arrive. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 13 May 2025 In addition to its column-wheel control system and double tilting pinion clutch system, the timepiece runs at 28,800 vph and uses a platinum rotor with ceramic bearings, Hodinkee reported. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 12 May 2025
Verb
Breathless, but clutching the ball, Jin closed his eyes in relief. Lizz Schumer, People.com, 6 May 2025 Wait, so Ellie gets to sleep the sleep of the innocent while Dina has to stay awake for hours, clutching her gun and waiting in terror and anguish for her favorite person in the world to turn into a monster? Sara Netzley, EW.com, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for clutch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clutch
Verb
  • South Sudan, where these latest deportations reportedly occurred, remains gripped by conflict and instability.
    Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
  • Davidson was particularly gripping as Schoenberg’s first wife, Mathilde.
    Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • Caffeine can also interfere with saliva production and cause an increase in nighttime teeth clenching and grinding, Sandip Sachar, DDS, a New York City dentist with Sachar Dental NYC, told Health.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 21 May 2025
  • Your body has an impulsive reaction of tightening your muscles and clenching when something feels uncomfortable.
    Alexander Cheves, Them., 16 May 2025
Verb
  • Particularly in less densely populated parts of America, plenty of government officials and citizens still hold a grudge over the way businesses and schools were temporarily shut down.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 17 May 2025
  • The result is partial solutions that rarely hold under pressure.
    Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 17 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clutch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clutch. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on clutch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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