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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clutched
The family clutched onto one another as the carriage tipped over at Cherry Hill near Bethesda Fountain, but the boy’s mother fell out.
—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
18 June 2026
He had been sucked out of a cabin on the morning of July 4 as children clutched at his limbs.
—
Karen Valby,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
Over about 20 minutes, Swift crafted a portrait of a record-breaking artist who is two decades into a career that has enabled her to work with so many collaborators (including Liz Rose, who was in attendance and who clutched Swift’s hands when All Too Well played over the speakers).
—
P. Claire Dodson,
Vogue,
12 June 2026
The 34-year-old Eriksen clutched his chest with both hands in an off-the-ball action before dropping to the ground in the 65th minute of Denmark’s international friendly against Ukraine in Odense, Denmark, on Sunday.
—
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Carter Jensen clutched a pack of baseball cards in his hand, carefully picking up the top one, looking at it, placing it aside and then repeating the process.
—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
8 June 2026
Her father ran onto the court to check on her as the American player clutched her injured ACL and meniscus.
—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
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
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
18 June 2026
He had been sucked out of a cabin on the morning of July 4 as children clutched at his limbs.
—
Karen Valby,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
Over about 20 minutes, Swift crafted a portrait of a record-breaking artist who is two decades into a career that has enabled her to work with so many collaborators (including Liz Rose, who was in attendance and who clutched Swift’s hands when All Too Well played over the speakers).
—
P. Claire Dodson,
Vogue,
12 June 2026
The 34-year-old Eriksen clutched his chest with both hands in an off-the-ball action before dropping to the ground in the 65th minute of Denmark’s international friendly against Ukraine in Odense, Denmark, on Sunday.
—
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Carter Jensen clutched a pack of baseball cards in his hand, carefully picking up the top one, looking at it, placing it aside and then repeating the process.
—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
8 June 2026
Her father ran onto the court to check on her as the American player clutched her injured ACL and meniscus.
—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clutched
Verb
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As the ball landed safely on the other side of the left field fence at Nationals Park on Monday, Dylan Crews clenched his fists and let out a scream.
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An accompanying photograph shows Glimcher holding the viewer’s gaze, his right hand outstretched on the desk, clenched in a tight fist.
Verb
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Ice skating’s governing body is gliding into a presidential election Friday, free of the turmoil that just gripped its Olympic sibling skiing.
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Another gripped a yellow stress ball throughout his testimony.
Verb
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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.
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That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.
Verb
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This is just one in a sweaty dungeon of hundreds of TikTok videos that show women being stalked, grabbed, tortured, tossed to the ground, and handcuffed by scary masked soldiers.
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Her mother asked what had just happened, and the girl related that Spencer had grabbed her.
Cite this Entry
“Clutched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clutched. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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