1
as in reduced
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2
as in gaunt
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Arpon Basu, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
The pocket is easily pinched closed.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Leaves can appear cupped or pinched when there is an insect infestation present.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
The sprint to build these sprawling facilities, which hold racks of humming servers powered by expensive processors, has touched off an unprecedented level of borrowing, pinched energy supplies and brought developers into conflict with communities worried about rising power and water costs.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
The strap is pinched at the center and features two open slits on each side.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026
The first set, from 1912 to 1915, shows Schjerfbeck in her fifties, her face milk white, her lips pinched and stern.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Martin advises that young plants can be pinched back for fuller growth although that will delay flowering a bit.
—Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 18 Jan. 2026
Local handset makers are getting pinched by high memory prices.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 17 Jan. 2026
Verb
Sanheim pinched in a couple of times in the opening period to create some looks for Canada.
—Arpon Basu, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
The pocket is easily pinched closed.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Leaves can appear cupped or pinched when there is an insect infestation present.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
The sprint to build these sprawling facilities, which hold racks of humming servers powered by expensive processors, has touched off an unprecedented level of borrowing, pinched energy supplies and brought developers into conflict with communities worried about rising power and water costs.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
The strap is pinched at the center and features two open slits on each side.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026
The first set, from 1912 to 1915, shows Schjerfbeck in her fifties, her face milk white, her lips pinched and stern.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Martin advises that young plants can be pinched back for fuller growth although that will delay flowering a bit.
—Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 18 Jan. 2026
Local handset makers are getting pinched by high memory prices.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 17 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinched
Adjective
-
It has long been linked to reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and overall mortality.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Drive at a reduced speed during wet weather.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Nitibhon, a Thai supermodel, plays her tycoon as comically drab, keeping her gaunt cheeks slack to emphasize her character’s hollowness.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Regina was standing by the window now, looking even more gaunt under the artificial light of the bulb behind her and the faint glow of the sunrise in front, which barely managed to filter through the balcony awning.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Why weren’t these unsavory tactics nipped in the bud?—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Kurt Busch nipped Johnson by eight points in 2004, followed by Stewart’s 52-point margin in 2005.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Pullman also stole from the union on his own, the office said, using his position debit card to pay for items like a vacation to Miami and lunch of champagne and caviar in New York with his then-girlfriend.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The story follows Jean Valjean, an embittered convict who stole bread to feed his sister’s starving family.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Two people were arrested after refusing to stop and leading Fort Worth police on a pursuit on Saturday afternoon.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Days ago, he was arrested and held in custody for nearly 11 hours on suspicion of misconduct in having shared confidential trade information with Epstein.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In Sonic 3’s credits, Sonic is being chased by an army of Metal Sonics, only to be suddenly saved by Rose.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Van Haalen saved the child with the help of firefighters Ben Wafful and Marco Matias, who both received life-saving awards at the ceremony.—
Kyle Werner,
Des Moines Register,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
As Derya and Aziz’s hypocrisies, as upper-class intellectuals, are increasingly brought to the fore, Namal and Biçer’s conversational performances grow haggard and strained.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
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No one’s going to want to watch a haggard perimenopausal woman who’s badly lit.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Jan. 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 26 Feb. 2026.
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