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
Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 9 Nov. 2025
Scientists tracking humpbacks off the coast of Australia have captured rare footage that shows clutches of the freeloading fish peeling away from their host in what looks like a high-speed game of chicken, just moments before the whale breaches.
—CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
The Strata takes a different approach entirely, comprising multiple pouches in varying sizes that can be worn individually as clutches or combined using chains and straps from other pieces in the collection.
—Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2025
Season four picks up right where season three left off, as Geralt, Jaskier, and new ally Milva trek toward Nilfgaard, hoping to save Ciri from the clutches of the crusading emperor Emhyr var Emreis.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Guests with no bags or clutches smaller than 4 inches by 6 inches can use Evolv express entry lanes for quickest entry.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 27 Oct. 2025
So while oil-rich states acquired Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, and the Premier League boomed with equity funding from the United States, the biggest team on the planet remained beyond the clutches of private investors.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
The Cleveland County facility produces advanced valves, actuators, clutches, and controls for automotive, truck and off-road vehicles.
—Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2025
The latter is a Canadian teenager who made the journey across the border in an effort to rescue her best friend, Abbie (Sydney Topliffe), from the clutches of this institution that her parents forced her to attend.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2025
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
The older woman clutches her top towel closer to her.
—Weike Wang, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
Beading, feathers, and pony-hair textures bring sumptuousness to ballet flats, clutches, and ladylike handbags, while plush textures give cloud-like softness to pumps and and tote bags.
—Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 9 Nov. 2025
Scientists tracking humpbacks off the coast of Australia have captured rare footage that shows clutches of the freeloading fish peeling away from their host in what looks like a high-speed game of chicken, just moments before the whale breaches.
—CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
The Strata takes a different approach entirely, comprising multiple pouches in varying sizes that can be worn individually as clutches or combined using chains and straps from other pieces in the collection.
—Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2025
Season four picks up right where season three left off, as Geralt, Jaskier, and new ally Milva trek toward Nilfgaard, hoping to save Ciri from the clutches of the crusading emperor Emhyr var Emreis.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Guests with no bags or clutches smaller than 4 inches by 6 inches can use Evolv express entry lanes for quickest entry.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 27 Oct. 2025
So while oil-rich states acquired Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, and the Premier League boomed with equity funding from the United States, the biggest team on the planet remained beyond the clutches of private investors.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
The Cleveland County facility produces advanced valves, actuators, clutches, and controls for automotive, truck and off-road vehicles.
—Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2025
The latter is a Canadian teenager who made the journey across the border in an effort to rescue her best friend, Abbie (Sydney Topliffe), from the clutches of this institution that her parents forced her to attend.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
Verb
-
This usually immediately grips their attention.—
Dónal Gill,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
-
This is the intriguing backdrop for a narrative that never really grips us, even if Chong has an artful way of depicting Hong Im’s lifestyle, which oscillates between real-world issues and religious wizardry.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
When the sky darkens, her stomach clenches.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
-
In a similar way, a man who is defiant stiffens his neck, squares his shoulders, lowers his brows, and clenches his fists with his knuckles forward.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
One cheerfully holds a toothbrush, her hair wrapped in a matching second towel (for me, a universal symbol of maturity and womanhood.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Outside of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North, who both stand alone as the only squads in their division with winning records, every other divisional leader holds only a slim edge over rivals in hot pursuit.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But the sustained fury grabs you.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Today, artificial intelligence grabs headlines and AI stocks are soaring.—
Drew O’Connor,
Nashville Tennessean,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clutches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clutches. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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