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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 clutching The Godfather with a puppet-master’s hand clutching a control bar that looks, ominously, like a cross. — Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026 In stunning snaps of the lakeside ceremony — captured by photographer Andrew Timms — Mel C is seen clutching a bouquet of flowers and posing in an ivory gown. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 5 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 And undrafted guard Jaeden Roberts was carted off the field after going down and clutching his left leg during Saturday’s team drills. — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 The two figures, dressed in Delft blue and white costumes and each clutching a tulip, leaned toward one another for a kiss, in the style of pottery figurines that are a staple of tourist souvenir stores throughout the Netherlands. — ABC News, 1 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 The small, seemingly insignificant experience of controlling an automobile by clutching and levering its gears turned out to be deeply meaningful. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clutching
  1. clenching
  2. gripping
  3. holding
  4. grabbing
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
  • The dramatic reappearance of the rusting wrecks has become one of the most striking visual reminders of both Europe’s wartime history and the severe drought currently gripping much of the continent.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Compounding the threat were persistent drought conditions and unusually warm temperatures gripping much of the Pacific Northwest.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of gripping
Verb
  • But that’s not what Parkinson wants from his holding players, as shown by James being 84th in the same metric.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • In a hearing on Wednesday, a judge ruled that Iron Mountain must hand over any physical devices holding the data, Current reported today.
    — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of holding
Verb
  • The trio of founders allegedly told investors that the brand would feature an app as its centerpiece and be boosted by major advertising deals and attention-grabbing celebrity photo shoots and cover stories.
    — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
  • One of the most attention-grabbing stars in the sky still keeps its secrets close—and that is one of the main reasons astronomers have so much fun studying it.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of grabbing

Browse Nearby Words

clutches
clutching
clutter
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Cite this Entry

“Clutching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clutching. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of clutching for Spanish Speakers

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