CLUTCHING Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

clutching

verb

present participle of clutch

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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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 clutching The footage shows Williams clutching Nathaniel as heavy waves repeatedly smash into them. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026 Gabriel Gudmundsson limped out of the friendly with Liverpool on August 2 after clutching at his right hamstring. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026 Which brings us to one reason FDOT might have been bosom-clutching paperwork. — Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026 After LaTanya and Zoe found Jackson one morning unconscious on their kitchen floor, still clutching cocaine, LaTanya helped get him into rehab. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Aug. 2026 The Godfather with a puppet-master’s hand clutching a control bar that looks, ominously, like a cross. — Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026 The series of two black-and-white photos showed the Duchess of Sussex leaping into a pool while clutching balloons. — Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026 Moments later, as gunfire erupts, the video appears to show Freytes running back inside clutching his chest before collapsing to the floor as horrified customers look on. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 27 July 2026 Just picture wearing this manicure while clutching an Aperol spritz on a winding cobblestone street! — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 16 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for clutching

Verb

Janet held the phone away from her ear, clenching her teeth against Maggie’s booming voice.

— Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
His workouts, jaw-clenching pull-ups and all, regularly appear on social media.

— Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 22 July 2026

Definition of clenching

Verb

This finding, the authors said, suggested soft tissue was still holding the skeleton in place.

— Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
The Austrian has played an active role in recruitment, holding near-daily conversations with George Syrianos, the club’s influential chief football officer.

— Paul Taylor, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of holding

Verb

One of the more memorable instances finds Cole grabbing an open padlock off a door and using it to belt an opponent across the face before hooking the shackle into the dude’s mouth and using it to rip open his cheek.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026
But everything points to his being ready for Week 1, and Jones already didn’t run as much between the 10s last year, so a free ticket on a potential fringe-QB1 is worth grabbing.

— Jake Ciely, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of grabbing

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clutches

clutching

clutter

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“Clutching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clutching. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of clutching

verb

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