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
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Recent Examples of pinch-hitting
Miami likely will look for a cheap right-handed-hitting outfielder to replace the right-handed hitting Myers and compete for a backup outfield and pinch-hitting job in spring training.
—
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Dec. 2025
This is Amanda Gerut, Fortune’s West Coast news editor, pinch-hitting for my colleague Allie Garfinkle.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 10 Dec. 2025
In the seventh, Hinch took a huge shot by pinch-hitting Jahmai Jones for Riley Greene.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Chapman struck out and Wilmer Flores, pinch-hitting for Bryce Eldridge, struck out too.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 24 Sep. 2025
And after pinch-hitting for Iglesias in the ninth inning last night, Shildt put Mason McCoy at shortstop in the 10th.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2025
Nathaniel Lowe joined Story on base with a single, and Romy Gonzalez, pinch-hitting for Rob Refsnyder, advanced them to second and third with a groundout.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Dec. 2025
This is Amanda Gerut, Fortune’s West Coast news editor, pinch-hitting for my colleague Allie Garfinkle.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 10 Dec. 2025
In the seventh, Hinch took a huge shot by pinch-hitting Jahmai Jones for Riley Greene.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Chapman struck out and Wilmer Flores, pinch-hitting for Bryce Eldridge, struck out too.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 24 Sep. 2025
And after pinch-hitting for Iglesias in the ninth inning last night, Shildt put Mason McCoy at shortstop in the 10th.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2025
Nathaniel Lowe joined Story on base with a single, and Romy Gonzalez, pinch-hitting for Rob Refsnyder, advanced them to second and third with a groundout.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinch-hitting
substituting
Verb
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Williams was the only starter to play more than 25 minutes as the Aztecs began substituting liberally after just 11 minutes, jumping out to a 32-12 lead thanks to an 18-0 run.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Jan. 2026
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Many online have gone on to add fresh fruits and honey to their creations, as well as substituting Biscoff cookies for other options like graham crackers, cookies and even Oreos.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pinch-hitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinch-hitting. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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