PINCHES Synonyms: 198 Similar and Opposite Words

pinches 1 of 2

noun

plural of pinch

as in thefts

an instance of theft the pinch of my favorite sweater really bugged me!

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Relevance

as in arrests

the act of taking into one's control by authority of law an innocent person caught up in a city-wide pinch of drug dealers

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as in lacks

a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number this labor pinch means that there'll be long lines at the checkouts

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pinches

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of pinch

as in holds

to squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points the zipper on those jeans always pinches me

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as in steals

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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as in seizes

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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as in saves

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

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 pinches

Verb

Dad pinches my cheek between his first two fingers with a soppy look in his eyes. —

Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025 There’s the moment Stanton’s Håkon Werle pinches the back of his son’s neck, like a cruel master bringing his dog to heel. —

Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2025 For Spraggins’ colleague, Josie Wheeler — who still sometimes pinches herself at going from bartending to meetings with nuclear power plant operators — Accenture is a lifetime commitment. —

Andy Tonsing, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 This pinches the space between them so only the high-k dielectric completely surrounds them. —

IEEE Spectrum, 14 Dec. 2017

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinches

Noun

This comes on the heels of reports of thousands of iPhone thefts in London, with their owners being blackmailed or threatened into giving the thieves their Apple ID credentials, so the thieves can unlock, wipe, and resell the phones.

— Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026
If approved, the force would give the agency’s officers the authority to carry a firearm, make arrests and investigate thefts.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026