as in clenching
to close or secure (something, such as a door) with a latch
latch the gate
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
According to the commission, standards include general requirements such as corner posts, protective components, openings, latching and locking mechanisms, as well as performance requirements like height of sides, mesh requirements and mattress vertical displacement.
—
Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
So before latching onto the latest diet fad, take a deep breath and head outside instead.
—CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
This sent Teddy down a rabbit hole of Internet conspiracy theories that ultimately led to him latching onto the idea that Michelle is an alien-in-disguise from the Andromeda galaxy who was sent to Earth as part of a plot to wipe out humanity.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
A lot of people in his position might have let persona take over when the audience is sort of latching onto that image.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
At one point, Terrill, who was wearing long acrylic fingernails, hooked her finger on one cuff to prevent the Agents from latching the second cuff onto her wrist.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
The following Sunday, Fulham’s Emile Smith Rowe equalised by latching onto a cross.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Online videos and orientation make the process easy to learn, and the team is there to guide the way through situations such as when the kitten is not latching or going to the bathroom.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Common issues include challenges with the baby latching onto your nipple, sore nipples, low milk supply, thrush, plugged milk ducts, inflammation of the breast (mastitis), and inverted nipples.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 27 Aug. 2025
Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
So before latching onto the latest diet fad, take a deep breath and head outside instead.
—CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
This sent Teddy down a rabbit hole of Internet conspiracy theories that ultimately led to him latching onto the idea that Michelle is an alien-in-disguise from the Andromeda galaxy who was sent to Earth as part of a plot to wipe out humanity.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
A lot of people in his position might have let persona take over when the audience is sort of latching onto that image.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
At one point, Terrill, who was wearing long acrylic fingernails, hooked her finger on one cuff to prevent the Agents from latching the second cuff onto her wrist.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
The following Sunday, Fulham’s Emile Smith Rowe equalised by latching onto a cross.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Online videos and orientation make the process easy to learn, and the team is there to guide the way through situations such as when the kitten is not latching or going to the bathroom.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Common issues include challenges with the baby latching onto your nipple, sore nipples, low milk supply, thrush, plugged milk ducts, inflammation of the breast (mastitis), and inverted nipples.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for latching
Verb
-
Wole faced fixedly forward, both fists clenching the steering wheel.—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Such rotting fruit from the forest floor contained higher concentrations of fermenting yeast and alcohol than the fruits hanging from trees.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Even as students work longer hours to avoid borrowing, loans accumulate like a cloud hanging overhead.—
Liam McCusker,
Hartford Courant,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Coby White scored 27 points and hit six of Chicago's franchise record-tying 25 3-pointers, and the hot-shooting Bulls beat the surging Los Angeles Clippers 138-110 on Tuesday night.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Coby White scored 27 points and made six of Chicago’s franchise record-tying 25 3-pointers, and the hot-shooting Bulls beat the surging Clippers, 138-110, on Tuesday night.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After the speakers concluded, the crowd lingered, hugging and clasping hands before police announced the parking lot would be closed.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Flex your left knee at a 90-degree angle and place the rope around the mid-foot, clasping the rope with the right hand.—
Gerard Hartmann,
Outside,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
At the 1999 Academy Awards, the former film took home a whopping seven Oscars, with Paltrow herself clinching the award for Best Actress at the age of 26.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
-
A week after clinching the I-70 Series for a fourth consecutive year, the Kansas City Comets are now left with questions to answer after dropping the final two games of the six-game series.—
Nathan Dunn,
Kansas City Star,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Analysts can now spend time on important work like diagnosing complex issues or improving processes, not copy-pasting tickets.—
Muddu Sudhakar,
Fortune,
18 Dec. 2025
-
Continue cutting and pasting napkin pieces until your ornament is fully covered.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Mears, 42, recalled that Dennis lunged forward to attack Ralphie, but ended up clamping onto her leg instead.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The vineyard says the town updated its noise guidelines the year after the business opened in 2017, unfairly clamping and shuttering the series for years at a time.—
Heather Bushman,
IndyStar,
13 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The most unusual, and arguably funniest, photos were of the couple bending over and grabbing each other's heads between their legs, which was midway in the album.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Two of the three acts listed in the rock/alternative category, genre-bending rock artist Ecca Vandal, and Speed, the NSW Music Prize-winning Sydney hardcore act, hail from the land down under.—
Lars Brandle,
Billboard,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Latching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/latching. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
