as in clenching
to close or secure (something, such as a door) with a latch
latch the gate
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Recent Examples of latching
Here against Casa Pia, for example, Suarez sets off at speed as soon as the ball breaks loose, latching onto an outside-of-the-boot pass with a run into the channels that is reminiscent of Gyokeres at Sporting last season.
—
Thom Harris, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Leslie Mann delivers a heartwarming performance as a woman drifting through a midlife reset, latching onto two college students locked in a subtle competition for her attention.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
The strategy is paying off, with an increasing number of listeners latching onto Toledo’s great versions of these soul/pop/R&B classics.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Fifth-place Monaco grabbed a second goal 10 minutes into the second half when midfielder Aleksandr Golovin, who had just come on, slid the ball into the bottom corner after latching onto a cross from the right.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Now, some are latching onto the wave of anti-OpenAI sentiment to voice broader critiques of the company.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 5 Mar. 2026
One very funny snippet has Elvis giving a sweet peck on the cheek to a little girl at the lip of the stage followed by what appears to be her big sister latching her lips onto him like a mollusk before being peeled off by her mother.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
Naval warfare goes a bit clingy as Lockheed Martin unveils its robotic Lamprey Multi-Mission Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (MMAUV), which can hitch a ride on friendly ships or submarines by latching onto their hulls to conserve power.
—David Szondy
february 09, New Atlas, 9 Feb. 2026
Some bright minds are already latching onto this idea.
—Anthony Digiorgio, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2026
Thom Harris, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Leslie Mann delivers a heartwarming performance as a woman drifting through a midlife reset, latching onto two college students locked in a subtle competition for her attention.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
The strategy is paying off, with an increasing number of listeners latching onto Toledo’s great versions of these soul/pop/R&B classics.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Fifth-place Monaco grabbed a second goal 10 minutes into the second half when midfielder Aleksandr Golovin, who had just come on, slid the ball into the bottom corner after latching onto a cross from the right.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Now, some are latching onto the wave of anti-OpenAI sentiment to voice broader critiques of the company.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 5 Mar. 2026
One very funny snippet has Elvis giving a sweet peck on the cheek to a little girl at the lip of the stage followed by what appears to be her big sister latching her lips onto him like a mollusk before being peeled off by her mother.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
Naval warfare goes a bit clingy as Lockheed Martin unveils its robotic Lamprey Multi-Mission Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (MMAUV), which can hitch a ride on friendly ships or submarines by latching onto their hulls to conserve power.
—David Szondy
february 09, New Atlas, 9 Feb. 2026
Some bright minds are already latching onto this idea.
—Anthony Digiorgio, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for latching
Verb
-
While not everyone experiences such dramatic effects, experts say stress, clenching and even past trauma can contribute to TMJ issues.—
Nicole Bennett,
AJC.com,
22 May 2026
-
The Beloved, his first film in Competition at Cannes, is an incredible achievement that builds on all those films and leaves them standing in the dust, hitting all the same tense throat-clenching beats but somehow transcending genre altogether.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The storm toppled the Citgo sign, leaving it hanging by the closed convenience store, but a couple of people arrived at the site.—
Amy Lavalley,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
This $12 hanging purse organizer will corral all your seasonal handbags, while these vacuum seal bags will neatly stash winter clothing until next year.—
Brittany VanDerBill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Irvine played a tough nonleague schedule before tying Rosary atop the Pacific Coast League.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
27 May 2026
-
After tying the game in the sixth, Arizona took a 3-2 lead in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Geraldo Perdomo.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
Verb
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In one segment, when Kimmel and McNearney pick up a hitchhiking Olivia Rodrigo while taking the family to school, Jane shows off her personality, clasping her hands over her mouth in disbelief when Rodrigo enters the car, only to sing-along with the pop star on her way to school.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
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McDaniels held onto Murray for dear life — often literally clasping his jersey — as the Nuggets tried to run him off every conceivable screen.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Verb
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After clinching the second largest comeback in the fourth quarter of a playoffs game since 1997, the Knicks are now three games away from the NBA finals.—
Swasti Singhai,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
-
The week began with the West Coast Board Riders Wheat Cup Finals, featuring top clubs from across the region battling for West Coast bragging rights for two days, San Clemente clinching that title.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
19 May 2026
Verb
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This led to the cutting and pasting practice whereby smaller rural or town newspapers borrowed from the larger newspapers in urban centers.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
26 May 2026
-
The fix is to weave conversation into the experience instead of pasting a clone on top.—
Lutz Finger,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Instead of rotating for adjusting its opening, the Renchi features jaws that slide along a linear axis with 12 locking plates for clamping force.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
18 May 2026
-
The plush cushioning in the earcups, leatherette finish, and modest clamping force hold them securely.—
Mark Knapp,
PC Magazine,
8 May 2026
Verb
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In early 2021, anchors from large container ships hooked an underwater oil pipeline on the ocean floor some 5 miles off Huntington Beach’s coast, bending it like a straw.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
28 May 2026
-
Those who have been through major hurricanes may tell you of the surreal visual of watching their doors and windows bending to the pressure from the winds.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Latching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/latching. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
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