clutches 1 of 3

plural of clutch

clutches

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of clutch

clutches

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of clutch

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
Noun
Once it's warmed up, the remaining motors are brought into action one after another by releasing their fly clutches with a wrench. — New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026 But this year, PS is pushing beyond the Hollywood stars eager to escape the clutches of Deuxmoi. — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 6 Nov. 2026 Since then, the aquarium has done its best to minimize disruptions and emulate natural conditions for two clutches whose journey thus far has been anything but routine. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026 Mechanical overpressure relief valves, centrifugal governors and break-away clutches all behave deterministically, even when software systems have been compromised. — Andrew Ginter, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Over the years, the duo parented several clutches of eaglets, most recently Sandy and Luna. — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 Nebraska taking a five-star from the clutches of the Tigers is a different can of worms altogether. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 Bag designs were more polarized, with oversize silhouettes and revivals of heritage styles juxtaposed to fantasy minaudière designs, sculptural clutches and embellished mini bags displaying brands’ craftsmanship and doubling as objects of art. — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 The pair were introduced in 2022, and after three clutches that produced no viable eggs, Mommy laid her first successful clutch in November 2024. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
The doctor wears a Star of David necklace and, in a pivotal scene in the show’s first season, clutches it while reciting the Shema, a central Jewish prayer, during an emotional crisis. — Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026 Anna practically clutches her pearls when asked to help the homeless. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026 For years, Guerin has held onto his veteran core like a grandmother clutches her third-generation pearls. — Michael Russo, New York Times, 2 July 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clutches
Noun
  • Two other large, bright open star clusters in this region that look great in 10x50 binoculars are the glittering stars of NGC 752 in Andromeda and M34, a bright, hazy patch in Perseus.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Talks for arrangements that would see Moonshot rent access to clusters of 8,000 or more Blackwell GPUs hosted in the region have taken place, one source said.
    — Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Before Wilson went out, Buzelis played extensive minutes with these secondary groups, which afforded him greater on-ball privileges (and responsibilities) to create on the offensive end of the ball.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 12 Nov. 2026
  • The researchers demonstrated that individual units could perform manipulation and locomotion independently, while connected groups could coordinate their movements to transport objects.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Howard County officials are recommending major changes to how police and emergency responders handle mental health and disability-related crises following the deadly police shooting of a 25-year-old man with autism.
    — CBS Baltimore, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Now, pressed to maintain its influence in Pyongyang amid a growing Russian–North Korean security relationship—and with the rest of the world distracted by other geopolitical crises—China has gone silent on the issue.
    — Stephen E. Biegun, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Not all sectors of the population, however, accepted the government’s new powers and influence over traditional political, economic, and social relationships.
    — Manfred W. Wenner, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Nov. 2026
  • The 2026 season was especially challenging due to the 2026 UIL realignment, which placed Crowley in the District of Doom alongside state powers North Crowley, Waxahachie and Duncanville.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • For a robot learning to make coffee, those recordings could show how someone grips a cup, positions it beneath a grinder and moves it without spilling.
    — Wen Shao, Fortune, 10 Nov. 2026
  • One mechanical arm grips a branch while the other operates the chainsaw.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • The couple gives the dough two days to rise before boiling and baking, then brings small batches to farmers markets.
    — Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Leftover grease can affect future batches of icing, while soap residue can leave an unwanted taste.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Although more than half of the Paleolithic cave-art groupings recorded in Europe are located in the Iberian Peninsula, the study notes that the northeastern region has generally yielded only fragmentary evidence.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 6 Nov. 2026
  • If Saturday’s results mirror the polls, Opportunity would hold the balance of power – with both the incumbent right and the opposition left coalition groupings in need of their support to secure a majority.
    — Todd Symons, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • The program meets military medics, corpsmen and service members at the crossroads of their transition, guiding them into professional health programs.
    — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The oil surplus has allowed the US to replenish some of its key inventories – particularly in Cushing, Oklahoma, the pipeline crossroads of America.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clutches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clutches. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!