LATCHING Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

latching

verb

present participle of latch

as in clenching

to close or secure (something, such as a door) with a latch latch the gate

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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 latching The dog made it over the fence and began to attack K-9 Diesel, latching onto his neck, prosecutors said. — Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026 The second saw Isak recalibrate his run in behind a couple of times before latching onto Gakpo’s trivela pass, staying composed as a defender and Scherpen got close before sliding a shot home with his left foot. — Gregg Evans, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 The company envisions future versions repairing and relocating live satellites, and even latching onto dead ones for removal from highly trafficked orbits. — Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 22 July 2026 The fence should have a self-closing, self-latching gate and be at least 4 feet tall. — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 18 July 2026 Berhalter tied the score again four minutes into the second half, latching onto a loose ball at the top of the penalty area and one-hopping a right-footed shot just inside the near post. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 As the president and his fellow Republicans try to balance a pro-tech agenda with constituents’ concerns, at least one key administration official and several GOP lawmakers are latching onto the reports of foreign influence campaigns. — Julia Shapero, The Hill, 22 June 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for latching

Verb

The third sits nearer the ear and detects chewing and teeth clenching.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
Years ago, after Jake died, my instinct as a medical student was anger — clenching my teeth and jabbing a pen into my notepad, making a line of inky holes along the margin.

— Caroline Cherston, STAT, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of clenching

Verb

Mark Middleton, 59, (May 2022) — died of a shotgun wound and hanging at the Heifer ranch in Perryville, Arkansas.

— Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
The display features a tent filled with clowns, body parts hanging from a tree and a central pumpkin patch that anchors the display.

— Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of hanging

Verb

Hunter's interception led to Jacksonville's drive and Little’s game-tying field goal.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton led a long, game-tying touchdown drive in the fourth quarter but lost a fumble with 58 seconds remaining and the Bulldogs driving for a potential go-ahead field goal.

— Charles Odum, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of tying

Verb

The upshot of this is that George, who works the room in a sharp gray suit, a few tattoos peeking out, has plenty of opportunities to charismatically make things right, shaking hands and clasping shoulders and sending over lull-filling drinks.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
But if the awards season goes as the streamer plans, a journey that began in Cannes with a rapturous standing ovation, could end with Los Javis clasping some golden statues.

— Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of clasping

Verb

The Chargers were seven days from winning yet one more game, moving to 11-4 and clinching a spot in the playoffs.

— Sam McDowell October 19, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2026
Los Angeles ultimately came back to win, clinching its second straight championship.

— Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of clinching

Verb

The movie starts with Farrier reporting on Bashford Antiques, a shop in Ponsonby that has begun aggressively clamping cars in its lot and demanding exorbitant fees to release them — up to $760.

— Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2026
Mechanics can easily calibrate and adjust system tension using an integrated clamping piece, ensuring consistent mechanical support throughout long operational cycles.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of clamping

Verb

While invisible themselves, these cosmic behemoths reveal their presence by bending the light of nearby objects, and the Black Hole Hunters project is searching for one specific manifestation of this effect.

— Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 18 Oct. 2026
The genre-bending feature stars Tom McLaren and counts former Twentieth Century Fox exec Mary McLaren among its producers.

— Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026