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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clutching
Dejected and weary, clutching a bag of bread, Pedro walked with a fist pressed to his mouth.
—
Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026
Reminders of the Golden Knights’ 2023 Stanley Cup are everywhere, like in the giant photo of William Karlsson clutching the Cup above the entrance to the practice facility in Summerlin.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Leffew is pictured smiling, holding her 10-month-old son Lou on her chest in a carrier and clutching a drink in one of her hands.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Flagg went down clutching his left knee.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 7 Jan. 2026
After the injury, Jokic could be seen on the floor clutching his knee.
—Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
Parents check their phones, stretch, read, and gossip, clutching hot Dunkin’ cups in their hands.
—Blair Braverman, Outside, 22 Dec. 2025
There are so many screaming, ecstatic adults, from recent grads to those clutching walkers and canes, that whatever feelings you might be gripped by in the moment—grief for the end of your college years, terror of the unknown—are blasted away, replaced by a pure and stunning kind of joy.
—Lucy Feldman, Time, 17 Dec. 2025
Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026
Reminders of the Golden Knights’ 2023 Stanley Cup are everywhere, like in the giant photo of William Karlsson clutching the Cup above the entrance to the practice facility in Summerlin.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Leffew is pictured smiling, holding her 10-month-old son Lou on her chest in a carrier and clutching a drink in one of her hands.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Flagg went down clutching his left knee.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 7 Jan. 2026
After the injury, Jokic could be seen on the floor clutching his knee.
—Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
Parents check their phones, stretch, read, and gossip, clutching hot Dunkin’ cups in their hands.
—Blair Braverman, Outside, 22 Dec. 2025
There are so many screaming, ecstatic adults, from recent grads to those clutching walkers and canes, that whatever feelings you might be gripped by in the moment—grief for the end of your college years, terror of the unknown—are blasted away, replaced by a pure and stunning kind of joy.
—Lucy Feldman, Time, 17 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clutching
Verb
-
Wole faced fixedly forward, both fists clenching the steering wheel.—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The simple and elegant dress was made to have a fluid silhouette that skimmed her body rather than tightly gripping it, letting the neckline do most of the talking.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
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In one of the larger fraud cases gripping the Land of 10,000 Lakes, the Feeding Our Future scheme cost taxpayers nearly $250 million, after the program's director approved nonexistent meal services going to poor people.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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To give yourself more storage for holding all of your vacation must-haves, simply snap both bags together to create a dual compartment design.—
Michelle Baricevic,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Peaceful protest, chanting, and holding signs are protected forms of speech.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Take after the actress by grabbing them in black, or choose from six additional colors, including burgundy and deep brown.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
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Healthy cooking often boils down to accessibility and convenience; busy lives can leave people grabbing less nutritious alternatives.—
Virginia Willis,
AJC.com,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clutching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clutching. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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