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
When Burns bogeyed the par-3 16th, missing an eight-foot par putt that seemed shocking for a player whose play on the greens had been incredible all week, Spaun saved par with a clutch second shot that put him five feet from the cup. Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 14 June 2025 Every statistic that emerges about the Indiana Pacers seems more remarkable than the last, their string of clutch comebacks defining the 2025 playoffs while defying logic, history and physics. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 12 June 2025
Verb
Roughly 10 minutes later, the animal finally backed out of the shop, clutching one last bag of snacks in his trunk. Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 5 June 2025 Tyrese Haliburton ridiculously clutch shooting in Game 1 proves that. Harry Enten, CNN Money, 7 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for clutch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clutch
Verb
  • For me thrillers, especially when tinged with horror, are a support structure, to construct stories which are gripping, and which gives you the chance to talk about personal and emotional conflicts which really drive the story, and not just those of the three protagonists.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 25 June 2025
  • These rare tapes reveal unnerving insights into his psyche, shedding light on the intricate details of the case and the pervasive fear that gripped the city.
    Peter White, Deadline, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • Hank Willis Thomas’ (b. 1976) monumental bronze raised arm and clenched fist doesn’t require 500 words of wall text to interpret.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
  • Not a market clenched in anticipation of a significant air pocket in growth.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 2 June 2025
Verb
  • GoTo also holds a 22% stake in Bank Jago, an Indonesian digital bank.
    Lionel Lim, Fortune, 22 June 2025
  • Plus How to Install One to Support Pollinators 10 Plants to Grow with Zinnias for a Pollinator Friendly Garden Bee Cups: A Pollination Innovation Among the innovations gaining attention are Bee Cups: Handmade mini porcelain containers that hold a teaspoon of water for pollinators.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Clutch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clutch. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on clutch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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