1
as in reduced
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2
as in gaunt
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1
2
as in stole
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
pinched the earrings while the boutique owner was distracted by another customer
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in arrested
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law
pinched the purse snatcher just two blocks from where he had robbed the old lady
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4
as in saved
to avoid unnecessary waste or expense
if we pinch hard for the upcoming year, we can probably afford the vacation at that fancy resort
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pinched
Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
These fall-blooming asters have generally been pinched and forced several times throughout the growing season.
—Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 9 May 2026
Schramma pinched off some centimeter-long leaves.
—Quanta Magazine, 4 May 2026
High jet fuel costs have pinched all US airlines, sending their costs surging.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
During that time, the world’s oil supply will remain pinched.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Starbucks’ investments had pinched profits in the previous quarter, but this past quarter saw profit and sales rise simultaneously for the first time in two years, easing Wall Street’s nerves and sending shares upward.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
Stems can be pinched back to stimulate more growth as needed.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
The toe strap was pinched at the center, creating a peep-toe-like design.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
Saranrom Thai is as pinched as a back alley, a simple geometry of concrete, wood and brick, and balances frank heat and funk with cooling freshness.
—Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
These fall-blooming asters have generally been pinched and forced several times throughout the growing season.
—Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 9 May 2026
Schramma pinched off some centimeter-long leaves.
—Quanta Magazine, 4 May 2026
High jet fuel costs have pinched all US airlines, sending their costs surging.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
During that time, the world’s oil supply will remain pinched.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Starbucks’ investments had pinched profits in the previous quarter, but this past quarter saw profit and sales rise simultaneously for the first time in two years, easing Wall Street’s nerves and sending shares upward.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
Stems can be pinched back to stimulate more growth as needed.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
The toe strap was pinched at the center, creating a peep-toe-like design.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinched
Adjective
-
United for Business comes with everything that will keep your production moving forward – reduced airfare, special rates for equipment, custom booking options, airport escort services and a dedicated entertainment support desk.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
12 May 2026
-
The car detected that the area had been flooded, but proceeded at a reduced speed anyway.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
When supermodels ruled the runway, low-rise pants hugged our hips, everyone smoked cigarettes, grunge was a music genre and an aesthetic, and looking scrawny and gaunt was considered attractive.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In late-stage chronic wasting disease, deer often appear emaciated and gaunt, Labonte said.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But a pivotal Supreme Court case nipped it in the bud.—
Tim Balk Danny Hakim Michelle Litvin Luke Broadwater,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
-
To prove out the findings in real biology, Schramma stuck his arm back into the fish tank, nipped more leaves, and snapped microscope images of the cells within to measure Elodea’s actual packing fractions.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Unidentified trespassers stole the control stick out of an R train while it was parked underground in southern Brooklyn back in December — along a stretch of storage track popular with joyriders and graffiti artists.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
-
Bregman singled and stole second, and Ian Happ challenged a full-count strike-3 call that was overturned to a walk.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
No remains were uncovered, but a month later, both Flores men were arrested and charged in connection with Smart’s murder.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
In 2024 a total of 219 unhoused people were arrested on this charge.—
Michael Perkins,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The La Jolla Recreation Center appears to have been saved from potential closure after San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria revised a budget proposal that last month included a scenario in which the 111-year-old building would be shuttered.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2026
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One kidney specialist, who requested anonymity to discuss their use of a tool that had not been explicitly approved by their hospital system, said that OpenEvidence regularly saved them 30 minutes of fruitless searching through older systems — including UpToDate.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Rocking back and forth nervously during a television appearance, a haggard-looking Diaz-Canel acknowledged the same talks, which his government had denied were taking place just days before.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
22 Mar. 2026
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Wrexham, meanwhile, was near the bottom, struggling in England’s lowest division under a haggard fan-ownership group keeping it on life support.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pinched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinched. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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