as in clenched
to have or keep in one's hands
he clutched the eggs carefully so he wouldn't drop them
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Recent Examples of clutched
The bride clutched a casual bouquet of yellow and white cut flowers.
—
Kim Willis, USA Today, 31 May 2026
Teoscar Hernandez clutched at his left hamstring after running out a ground ball in the second inning.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 28 May 2026
In a snap that Tanner posted on Instagram Stories, the couple shared a smooch on the green as Clark clutched his trophy.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 25 May 2026
Knives are clutched, teeth are clenched, and a desperate Russian ex-pat yells loud enough for their long-dead ancestors to hear all the way back in the motherland.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Roach clutched a black Mini Kelly (of course Hermès gave him the best color) and his long black hair never looked a strand out of place.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 5 May 2026
Parents clutched their children closer.
—Amy Driscoll, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026
Flowers surrounded the baby girl's tiny casket inside the Lawrence Woodward Funeral Home in Crown Heights, as family members clutched each other and said their final goodbyes.
—Naveen Dhaliwal, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Elliot Cadeau came rushing over to his mom after the game, a fistful of maize-and-blue confetti clutched tight in his hand.
—Justin Williams, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Kim Willis, USA Today, 31 May 2026
Teoscar Hernandez clutched at his left hamstring after running out a ground ball in the second inning.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 28 May 2026
In a snap that Tanner posted on Instagram Stories, the couple shared a smooch on the green as Clark clutched his trophy.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 25 May 2026
Knives are clutched, teeth are clenched, and a desperate Russian ex-pat yells loud enough for their long-dead ancestors to hear all the way back in the motherland.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Roach clutched a black Mini Kelly (of course Hermès gave him the best color) and his long black hair never looked a strand out of place.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 5 May 2026
Parents clutched their children closer.
—Amy Driscoll, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026
Flowers surrounded the baby girl's tiny casket inside the Lawrence Woodward Funeral Home in Crown Heights, as family members clutched each other and said their final goodbyes.
—Naveen Dhaliwal, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Elliot Cadeau came rushing over to his mom after the game, a fistful of maize-and-blue confetti clutched tight in his hand.
—Justin Williams, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clutched
Verb
-
On April 23, LeCroy remembered, Crews caught a sinking liner, held his glove in the air, clenched his fist and screamed into his glove.—
Spencer Nusbaum,
New York Times,
19 May 2026
-
Tuanzebe—born in Bunia, raised in Rochdale—is sprinting toward the corner flag, fists clenched at his waist, triumphant.—
Franklin Leonard,
Vanity Fair,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
War came in the summer of 1914 because of the all-encompassing fear that had gripped many Great Power leaders, looking for signs that they would be attacked.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
-
We are gripped by financial worry, social decay and political disagreement at a time of deep polarization and alienation.—
Tara Sonenshine,
Baltimore Sun,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
He's also grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 4 assists.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
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Spurs reserve Harrison Barnes accidentally collided with Brunson's right knee while falling to the floor, and the Knicks star immediately grabbed at the leg in apparent pain.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clutched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clutched. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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