pinched 1 of 2

pinched

2 of 2

verb

past tense of pinch
1
as in nipped
to squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points the zipper on those jeans always pinches me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 pinched
Verb
The basketball star playfully pinched his son’s cheek after the United States team beat Venezuela. Alexandra Hurtado, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025 Soon after, the bust got pinched. David Kushner, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025 Among the royal gems that were pinched is a necklace, with eight sapphires and 631 diamonds, and the crown of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, encrusted with nearly 2,000 diamonds and 212 pearls. Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 20 Oct. 2025 Jordan Harris pinched down low but the Knights gained control and attacked. Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025 Nelson later explained that the explosion happened after the antenna lines pinched the battery layers together, causing a short circuit. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025 Some even report being pinched and yanked at while in the room, staff say the pincher is the ghost of a homeless little girl who occupied the vacant prison during the Great Depression. Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025 Traveling has gotten even more difficult in recent weeks after Doreen pinched a nerve in her spine and is now unable to lift Dan’s scooter. Alana Semuels, Time, 30 Sep. 2025 The mixture should be shaggy and hold together when pinched. Staff Author, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinched
Adjective
  • Newly-solo Lionsgate on Thursday posted sharply lower overall film and TV businesses’ revenues and a reduced loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2026.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The holiday kits offer a complete Thanksgiving spread at a reduced price, including everything needed for a delicious feast such as turkey and classic sides like mac and cheese, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and of course, pie.
    Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • And in a third, the gaunt 30-year-old killer flexes, purses his lips and squints.
    Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The apparently recent footage showed two hostages -- Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Alon Ohel -- looking gaunt and exhausted while being driven around Gaza City.
    WAFAA SHURAFA, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Elsewhere, a glass of orange juice propped on the side of an easel seemed to hint at an artist who just nipped out for a break.
    Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Yet, the club still nipped the Lakers on 2024-25 revenue, $620 million to $618 million, thanks to the playoff run—the Lakers lost in the first round.
    Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • And at the country mansion of Blenheim Palace, where Winston Churchill was born, a thief stole a golden toilet in 2018.
    Ashley J. DiMella, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • James notched his fifth and final score in the third quarter, and the Heights’ defense stole the show, preventing Paschal from scoring until late in the fourth quarter.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Also on Wednesday, a daycare employee was arrested outside of her workplace in Chicago.
    Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • That’s when he was arrested at a Motel 6 outside Orlando, jailed and charged with grand theft for failing to return a rental car in Broward County.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Had the vaccine reached the elder sooner, perhaps more of the Juma people’s history would have been saved.
    Adriana Brasileiro, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Go to Settings > General > Local Capture to choose where your recordings are saved or to enable audio-only recording.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Now, the film is a downright classic, centering on three haggard witches (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy) who go on a hilarious misadventure while trying to remain young forever.
    Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
  • When Claire first shows up, Sweeney’s haggard appearance is doubly shocking for anyone who’s seen how radiant the star looks in most roles.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 7 June 2025
Verb
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Pinched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinched. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.

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