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
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Recent Examples of clutches
Literary Hub,
29 June 2026
The patented system includes a rotary power source (typically an internal combustion engine), a generator-motor, a differential connected to the drive wheels, and multiple shafts and clutches that control how power flows through the vehicle.
—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
28 June 2026
Toph escapes the clutches of her mother — who poisoned and kidnapped her — by revealing her earthbending powers, breaking out of the metal cage to rejoin Team Avatar.
—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
But so has Dunaway and far too much of Supergirl’s attention is diverted to rescuing her young man from Dunaway’s evil clutches.
—
Arthur Knight,
HollywoodReporter,
25 June 2026
But according to recent research, some of those dads have resorted to eating their clutches, possibly in response to environmental stressors such as water pollution or vegetation loss, as Scientific American reported in 2023.
—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
21 June 2026
The volunteers find clutches of eggs laid at night in late summer, protecting them with wire mesh.
—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
21 June 2026
Each silhouette is thoughtfully designed with unique features tailored to beauty and travel needs like separate packing compartments to keep products organized, palette storage for makeup, brush holders to protect bristles, travel mirrors, and removable pouches that double as chic clutches.
—
ABC News,
16 June 2026
The Tequila style is also offered in a high-heel sandal design version, in flat sandals, slides, clutches, and more.
—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
12 June 2026
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
In it, Marilyn clutches the pillow toward her, revealing her disarming fragility.
—
Michael Soncin,
Vanity Fair,
9 June 2026
Here, a guest clutches hers as the finishing touch to her breezy button-down, maxi skirt, and heeled flip-flops.
—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
3 June 2026
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
Noun
In the film, which was based on a Pulitzer Prize nominated memoir, Betty escapes the clutches of her barbaric Iranian husband (played by Alfred Molina) and courageously smuggles herself and her daughter out of Iran.
—
Literary Hub,
29 June 2026
The patented system includes a rotary power source (typically an internal combustion engine), a generator-motor, a differential connected to the drive wheels, and multiple shafts and clutches that control how power flows through the vehicle.
—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
28 June 2026
Toph escapes the clutches of her mother — who poisoned and kidnapped her — by revealing her earthbending powers, breaking out of the metal cage to rejoin Team Avatar.
—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
But so has Dunaway and far too much of Supergirl’s attention is diverted to rescuing her young man from Dunaway’s evil clutches.
—
Arthur Knight,
HollywoodReporter,
25 June 2026
But according to recent research, some of those dads have resorted to eating their clutches, possibly in response to environmental stressors such as water pollution or vegetation loss, as Scientific American reported in 2023.
—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
21 June 2026
The volunteers find clutches of eggs laid at night in late summer, protecting them with wire mesh.
—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
21 June 2026
Each silhouette is thoughtfully designed with unique features tailored to beauty and travel needs like separate packing compartments to keep products organized, palette storage for makeup, brush holders to protect bristles, travel mirrors, and removable pouches that double as chic clutches.
—
ABC News,
16 June 2026
The Tequila style is also offered in a high-heel sandal design version, in flat sandals, slides, clutches, and more.
—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
12 June 2026
Verb
In the midst of handing the job over to his son, even as Diego is making a speech about water supplies, hygiene and education, Don Alejandro snatches it back to cheers, clutches his heart and dies.
—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
In it, Marilyn clutches the pillow toward her, revealing her disarming fragility.
—
Michael Soncin,
Vanity Fair,
9 June 2026
Here, a guest clutches hers as the finishing touch to her breezy button-down, maxi skirt, and heeled flip-flops.
—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
3 June 2026
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
-
Lee said the southwest will host major chip production clusters, drawing on abundant, underused power.
-
Chloe Bailey Clad in an hourglass Valdrin Sahiti gown, Chloe Bailey continued her blond bob era, pairing the pithy style with stringent liner and lash clusters along her waterline.
Noun
-
Large friendship groups can be a really cool experience, but can also pose challenges in terms of the depths of intimacy that can be cultivated with each person.
-
Its beachfront villas suit multigenerational families and friend groups alike, with activities ranging from oyster roasts to horseback riding, shooting, golf, biking, kayaking, boating and fishing.
Noun
-
Famous fashion dolls Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling) head to the Real World and deal with existential crises while things go goofily awry for the plastic folks in Barbie Land.
-
New research reveals 80% of consumers learn about brand crises on social platforms, expecting swift, transparent engagement over traditional press releases.
Noun
-
The Verdict on Ina and Julia’s Potato Salad I’m grateful that Ina’s cookbook introduced me to the powers of potato cooking water.
-
While senior Iraqi officials will attend the funeral, representation from other major powers will be limited.
Verb
-
This Laura Geller hydrating primer creates a silky-smooth canvas that grips your foundation for all-day wear.
-
Together with slight pressure from your foot, the claw head and pedal penetrates soil, grips the weed, and pulls it straight out of the ground from its roots.
Noun
-
So far, the Pentagon has released three batches of files ranging from decades-old FBI reports to more recent military videos showing orbs darting or soaring through the sky.
-
Demo Brewing Company Malt Row’s most compact brewery, Demo, makes small craft batches, so their tap list is constantly evolving.
Noun
-
When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.
-
When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.
Noun
-
How ‘The Ultimatum’ works The Ultimatum follows couples at a crossroads in their relationships.
-
American wine has never enjoyed greater global credibility, but the industry faces historic crossroads today, grappling with oversupply, declining consumption and growing uncertainty about its future.
Cite this Entry
“Clutches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clutches. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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