as in close
giving or sharing as little as possible
neighborhood kids who were trick-or-treating knew better than to bother to knock on that pinching couple's door
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in saving
the quality or practice of being overly sparing with money
this constant pinching is getting ridiculous—we can afford to turn on one or two lights!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in stealing
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
pinched the earrings while the boutique owner was distracted by another customer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in arresting
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in conserving
to avoid unnecessary waste or expense
if we pinch hard for the upcoming year, we can probably afford the vacation at that fancy resort
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pinching
Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Made from SpanxSmooth material—a lightweight nylon-and-elastane blend—the bralette feels almost weightless and provides gentle smoothing without any digging or pinching.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2025
Walter’s first full season in charge was the end of the penny pinching that existed under prior owner Frank McCourt.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The shoes have a wide toe box with plenty of room for feet to spread out, which helps prevent painful pinching and accommodates foot issues.
—Isabel Garcia, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Abby Morgan Lebet, InStyle, 22 Jan. 2026
Thanks to its finger guard technology, your fingers are also safe from pinching.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 22 Jan. 2026
Slightly pink in color (primarily from Tabasco and cayenne) and beautifully glossy, the sauce is tongue-pinching sour but immediately melds into a complex blend of heat, tang, and umami.
—Matt Moore, Southern Living, 13 Jan. 2026
The next morning, Helen sits at the kitchen table, pinching one of the seed pods that Thiago gave her between her thumb and forefinger and spinning it like a top.
—Sadia Shepard, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026
And as often happens with private equity acquisitions of retailers, the companies were larded with unsustainable debt, which made investing in the core business more difficult and led to penny-pinching measures that have been destructive to the businesses.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
After all, debt collection activity has picked up recently, thanks in large part to interest rates remaining elevated, inflation pinching household budgets and more Americans leaning on credit cards to bridge their budgetary gaps.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
The wide top band keeps everything in place without pinching, and the interior features a soft, cushiony texture that feels warm without adding bulk.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 18 Dec. 2025
Remove your loose tinsel from your tree branches by pinching it in the center again, and pull straight upwards to easily free it from its place on your tree.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Dec. 2025
Noun
The bra’s signature M frame creates a sturdy structure that supports your chest sans underwire — thereby avoiding any digging, pinching, and poking throughout the day.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Made from SpanxSmooth material—a lightweight nylon-and-elastane blend—the bralette feels almost weightless and provides gentle smoothing without any digging or pinching.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2025
Walter’s first full season in charge was the end of the penny pinching that existed under prior owner Frank McCourt.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The shoes have a wide toe box with plenty of room for feet to spread out, which helps prevent painful pinching and accommodates foot issues.
—Isabel Garcia, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
Wearers love how this cheeky hipster style stays put and still looks invisible under their clothes without pinching or riding up.
—Abby Morgan Lebet, InStyle, 22 Jan. 2026
Thanks to its finger guard technology, your fingers are also safe from pinching.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 22 Jan. 2026
Slightly pink in color (primarily from Tabasco and cayenne) and beautifully glossy, the sauce is tongue-pinching sour but immediately melds into a complex blend of heat, tang, and umami.
—Matt Moore, Southern Living, 13 Jan. 2026
The next morning, Helen sits at the kitchen table, pinching one of the seed pods that Thiago gave her between her thumb and forefinger and spinning it like a top.
—Sadia Shepard, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026
And as often happens with private equity acquisitions of retailers, the companies were larded with unsustainable debt, which made investing in the core business more difficult and led to penny-pinching measures that have been destructive to the businesses.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
After all, debt collection activity has picked up recently, thanks in large part to interest rates remaining elevated, inflation pinching household budgets and more Americans leaning on credit cards to bridge their budgetary gaps.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
The wide top band keeps everything in place without pinching, and the interior features a soft, cushiony texture that feels warm without adding bulk.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 18 Dec. 2025
Remove your loose tinsel from your tree branches by pinching it in the center again, and pull straight upwards to easily free it from its place on your tree.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinching
Adjective
-
Moltbook’s emergence suggests that a future in which bots act autonomously is closer than previously thought.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Recent reporting has put a spotlight on Medicaid fraud and what can happen when large public programs operate without close oversight.—
Miki Kapoor,
New York Daily News,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In short, traditional Medicare is effective, life-saving, and affordable.—
Marianne Pizzitola,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The mitigation is to disable automative media saving.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
About a second after the agent holding Pretti’s weapon starts moving away, the officer in the black beanie appears to fire four shots at Pretti.—
Yahya Abou-Ghazala,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Produced by One Pulse Group, the global production team behind S20 America and EDC Korea, ‘KRAZY Super Concert’ is holding its first-ever United Arab Emirates concert at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre.—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Some also accused unscrupulous recruitment agents or Russian colleagues of stealing from their bank accounts.—
Larry Madowo,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Vandals broke into a Catholic school in Long Beach overnight Monday, stealing church items, damaging statues and tossing the tabernacle to the ground, according to police and school officials.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Krasner noted immigration agents have been keeping tabs on courthouse proceedings, targeting and arresting people usually just outside the buildings.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
-
That was the campaign promise, but the reality this past year has been far different with the obvious and well-documented fact that ICE has been trawling around arresting people based on looks or accents or location.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Eating seasonally and locally, reducing food waste, conserving water, reducing plastic use and recycling properly are other ways to help mitigate, or deal with the effects of, the climate crisis.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Eco mode and Tesla’s Chill mode can also help with conserving energy.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Leeds are right on the limit of their profitability and sustainability (PSR) projections, but with some careful rebalancing of the finances, this could be a swing worth taking.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Inflation continues to pressure consumers The holiday economizing comes as Americans continue to battle inflation, which rose after the COVID-19 pandemic to levels not seen since the 1980s.—
Alexander Coolidge,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pinching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinching. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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