Synonyms of pinch-hitting

pinch-hitting

verb

present participle of pinch-hit

as in substituting

to serve as a replacement usually for a time only

assigned to pinch-hit as a math teacher for the remainder of the semester

Synonyms & Similar Words

• substituting
• subbing
• spelling
• standing in
• covering
• filling in
• taking over
• stepping in
• relieving
• understudying
• doubling (as)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pinch-hitting

Mickey Gasper led off the seventh with a single and Andruw Monasterio, pinch-hitting for Seigler, greeted left-hander Brent Headrick with a one-out single. — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 7 June 2026

That was after Merrill lined out (at 105 mph) to start the ninth and Bryce Johnson struck out pinch-hitting for Bowen, who is 0-for-6 with four strikeouts in his two games. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2026

Loftin delivered a two-run double while pinch-hitting and Maikel Garcia followed with an RBI single that tied the game at 5-5. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2026

Then Cash made another surprising move by leaving Vilade in to hit against Gaddis rather than pinch-hitting lefty Jake Fraley, and that also paid off when Vilade delivered an RBI single up the middle. — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026

And in the bottom of the seventh, Yoshida led off with a single, Trevor Story walked, Ceddanne Rafaela, pinch-hitting for Marcelo Mayer, lined a ball past the outstretched glove arm of first baseman Keith, but far inside the right-field line for a two-run single. — Gabrielle Starr, Hartford Courant, 20 Apr. 2026

Schmitt grounded into a double play, and Jerar Encarnacion (pinch-hitting for Jung Hoo Lee) struck out swinging. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2026

Liam Hicks walked, Owen Caissie doubled and Javier Sanoja, pinch-hitting for Graham Pauley, shot a two-run single back up the middle to stretch the lead to 5-1. — Noah Gulley, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2026

And which right-handed hitting veteran becomes the pinch-hitting specialist and occasional DH? — Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026