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
Sawyer Farr, pinch-hitting for Sorrell, blasted a double to right field and drove in Kiel II to tie the game and bring the game to extra innings.
—
Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026
The Giants have come a long way from Mark Mathias pinch-hitting for Brandon Crawford.
—Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
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
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
Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026
The Giants have come a long way from Mark Mathias pinch-hitting for Brandon Crawford.
—Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
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
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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Now, if oil prices remain elevated, those same firms will face fresh cost pressures and few, or no, options for substituting oil.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
15 Mar. 2026
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For an extra kick, try substituting spicy Italian sausage for the mild.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Southern Living,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pinch-hitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinch-hitting. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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