as in clenching
to have or keep in one's hands
he clutched the eggs carefully so he wouldn't drop them
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Recent Examples of clutching
Morales is seen in surveillance video clutching at Pulido’s sweater a couple of times with Pulido brushing his hand away before Morales returns and the beating and kicking commences.
—
City News Service, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
Steinem entered the quietly buzzing room wearing all black and clutching a wooden cane painted with blue and pink birds in her right hand.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 22 Apr. 2026
Such desperate attempts at grandiosity evoke empty vanity, clutching at physical monuments to prove a greatness that history has not yet conferred.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
The actress posed in a field of flowers while clutching her bare chest.
—Sarah Sotoodeh, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2026
Bednar could then be seen bending over and clutching the side of his head.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
They're dressed differently each year — alternately wearing a Christmas sweater or clutching a Georgia peach ice cream sandwich — and officials haven't confirmed or denied rumors this might be their last year on the shelves.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 9 Apr. 2026
Unfortunately, turbulence is getting worse as global weather patterns change, which can leave even confident passengers clutching their armrests from time to time.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
Colman came on, clutching her Oscar.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2026
City News Service, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
Steinem entered the quietly buzzing room wearing all black and clutching a wooden cane painted with blue and pink birds in her right hand.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 22 Apr. 2026
Such desperate attempts at grandiosity evoke empty vanity, clutching at physical monuments to prove a greatness that history has not yet conferred.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
The actress posed in a field of flowers while clutching her bare chest.
—Sarah Sotoodeh, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2026
Bednar could then be seen bending over and clutching the side of his head.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
They're dressed differently each year — alternately wearing a Christmas sweater or clutching a Georgia peach ice cream sandwich — and officials haven't confirmed or denied rumors this might be their last year on the shelves.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 9 Apr. 2026
Unfortunately, turbulence is getting worse as global weather patterns change, which can leave even confident passengers clutching their armrests from time to time.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
Colman came on, clutching her Oscar.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clutching
Verb
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In the premiere, Rue and Faye run drugs across the border, clenching their butts to hold bags of fentanyl in their digestive tract for as long as possible.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
13 Apr. 2026
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Protect against teeth grinding, clenching and enamel damage with custom dental solutions from ClearClub.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Another, from 2009, is dominated by the profile of what appears to be a guard dog gripping a black hunk of something unidentifiable.—
Ben Davis,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, Nazem Kadri is passing up shots and sometimes looks uncomfortable gripping his stick right now.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Besides holding the other candidates hostage in his attic until after the election, there’s probably nothing that could help him.—
Matt Fleming,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
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The offenders then allegedly demanded access to a safe, a computer and accounts holding cryptocurrency.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Verb
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There’s also significant doubt among Republicans as to whether DeSantis will even accomplish the goal of grabbing at least four more seats.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
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The shortage started grabbing headlines early last month.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clutching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clutching. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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