1
as in clusters
a number of things considered as a unit
a clutch of medals adorned the general's chest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in groups
a usually small number of persons considered as a unit
a clutch of people traveling together
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in crises
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
a football quarterback who always comes through in the clutch
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in powers
the right or means to command or control others
a nation no longer living in the clutch of a cruel tyrant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in grips
to have or keep in one's hands
he clutched the eggs carefully so he wouldn't drop them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 clutches
Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026
In the Midwest, only 7% of clutches reach five eggs.
—Kathryn Kovalenko, Twin Cities, 29 Apr. 2026
But, does Sasha escape Ben's clutches?
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
The structure follows an A to M biopic trajectory, tuning out just when Michael broke free from the evil clutches of his abusive, belt-wielding manager and dad Joseph – portrayed by Colman Domingo, going full tilt as a villain.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
Bergamot scents a dish of Alpine trout and cauliflower purée, while one of his team is a forager from the region, and brings back clutches of pine needles and wild spinach.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Black throat monitors reproduce by laying eggs, and females can produce large clutches.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2026
Claire Randall falls through the stones at Inverness and, after escaping the clutches of series-best villain Black Jack Randall, links up with those Highlanders and spends time at Castle Leoch and Lallybroch.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026
The import taxes have raised the costs of engines, steel, gearboxes and clutches made abroad that Allen needs to build power trowels that can sell for up to $100,000 each.
—Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Brandy Jensen, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
Martin Short clutches his laptop walking onto set for Jimmy Kimmel Live!
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
Mispelys Salazar clutches a stack of papers close to her chest as bristling wind gusts threaten to send them flying into the air.
—Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 1 Dec. 2025
On the plane, Dick clutches the slingshot and begins sweating and muttering to himself before becoming unresponsive.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
The older woman clutches her top towel closer to her.
—Weike Wang, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
Between cleverly convertible shoulder bags and elegant clutches, there’s a pick for every outfit and occasion this spring.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026
In the Midwest, only 7% of clutches reach five eggs.
—Kathryn Kovalenko, Twin Cities, 29 Apr. 2026
But, does Sasha escape Ben's clutches?
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
The structure follows an A to M biopic trajectory, tuning out just when Michael broke free from the evil clutches of his abusive, belt-wielding manager and dad Joseph – portrayed by Colman Domingo, going full tilt as a villain.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
Bergamot scents a dish of Alpine trout and cauliflower purée, while one of his team is a forager from the region, and brings back clutches of pine needles and wild spinach.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Black throat monitors reproduce by laying eggs, and females can produce large clutches.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2026
Claire Randall falls through the stones at Inverness and, after escaping the clutches of series-best villain Black Jack Randall, links up with those Highlanders and spends time at Castle Leoch and Lallybroch.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026
The import taxes have raised the costs of engines, steel, gearboxes and clutches made abroad that Allen needs to build power trowels that can sell for up to $100,000 each.
—Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
Lemann, like the talkative older ladies of her youth, clutches the motifs of her past like talismans.
—Brandy Jensen, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
Martin Short clutches his laptop walking onto set for Jimmy Kimmel Live!
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
Mispelys Salazar clutches a stack of papers close to her chest as bristling wind gusts threaten to send them flying into the air.
—Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 1 Dec. 2025
On the plane, Dick clutches the slingshot and begins sweating and muttering to himself before becoming unresponsive.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
The older woman clutches her top towel closer to her.
—Weike Wang, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clutches
Noun
-
Along its spiral arms, bright orange pockets mark areas where new star clusters are forming, carving out glowing bubbles in the surrounding material.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 May 2026
-
Lion’s ear produce clusters of fuzzy orange flowers that give the plant its common name.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
The coach also pulled small groups of challenging students out of Lignore’s class to teach them social and emotional skills and helped Lignore make and consistently use behavior charts with her students.—
Stacker,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
The ambassadors wore Day-Glo-green T-shirts and usually worked in groups of two or three.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
The ongoing crises of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, coupled with alcohol use, have made for a nightmarish liver landscape.—
Lev Facher,
STAT,
12 May 2026
-
As with the previous 12 installments, where revenue served to support the shows’ out-of-work staff, the new episode’s proceeds will benefit the World Central Kitchen, an international nonprofit that provides meals during humanitarian crises.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
By design Congress is supposed to serve as a check on the executive branch through budgetary, legislative and oversight powers.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
The step aims to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign powers for high-thrust engines.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
In one example, the robot grips a can sideways, a simple mistake that could lead to spills, showing that human-like understanding remains limited.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Fast forward to today and those fears have materialized with dizzying speed as a historic oil and gas crisis sparked by the US and Israel’s war with Iran grips the world.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Since pharmaceutical companies typically make drugs and therapies in batches and plan those batches months in advance, some companies may not be able to increase estrogen patch production for a few months, Ganio said.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
10 May 2026
-
At present, the team has only managed to showcase the catalyst under laboratory conditions in small batches.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
To prevent mealybug infestations, allow airflow between plant groupings and keep infected plants away from healthy ones.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
14 May 2026
-
When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
The feature centers on two women — Yoriko (Takako Matsu), an artist living in rural Nagi, and her friend and former sister-in-law Yuri (Shizuka Ishibashi) — at a crossroads and searching for a way to move forward.—
Elaina Patton,
IndieWire,
12 May 2026
-
The Sprinters Last July, Groenewegen’s career was at a mini-crossroads.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clutches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clutches. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
