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
ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
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
Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
On an iPhone, do this via the dial at the bottom of your camera instead of pinching and zooming; the former retains more quality.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 1 Mar. 2026
In this beloved holiday classic, The Muppets perform Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, Michael Caine as the penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge, and many more of your favorite Muppet characters.
—Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Feb. 2026
Fold up sides of each circle to form an equilateral triangle with about 3-inch-long, 1-inch-tall sides, pinching together corners to seal.
—Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
The son of an emotionally remote father and penny-pinching mom, Smith was born the eldest of two boys in Tacoma.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
Klein, who came out of nowhere to rescue the Dodgers with four scoreless innings in the marathon Game 3 of the World Series, was still pinching himself about being recognized in public.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
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
Noun
The penny pinching has small business owners complaining about hard times.
—ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
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
The best way to pick strawberries is by taking the stem between two fingers and pinching until the stem breaks, says Warner.
—Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
On an iPhone, do this via the dial at the bottom of your camera instead of pinching and zooming; the former retains more quality.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 1 Mar. 2026
In this beloved holiday classic, The Muppets perform Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, Michael Caine as the penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge, and many more of your favorite Muppet characters.
—Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Feb. 2026
Fold up sides of each circle to form an equilateral triangle with about 3-inch-long, 1-inch-tall sides, pinching together corners to seal.
—Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
The son of an emotionally remote father and penny-pinching mom, Smith was born the eldest of two boys in Tacoma.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
Klein, who came out of nowhere to rescue the Dodgers with four scoreless innings in the marathon Game 3 of the World Series, was still pinching himself about being recognized in public.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinching
Adjective
-
The most appropriate action is to drive to the closest shelter available.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The virus can spread through close contact with someone who is infected, such as by sharing food or eating utensils.—
Jasmine Mendez
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Everyone who’s feeling groggy this week gets a pass thanks to daylight saving time.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Dave & Buster's is looking to capitalize on daylight saving time with a new guest pass.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Sanchez dazzled over five innings, holding Korea to just two hits and a walk while striking out eight.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The bishop of a Chaldean Catholic church based in El Cajon is accused of stealing more than $250,000 from the church and backfilling the hole in the books with money intended to be used for poor people, a prosecutor told an East County judge Monday.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The reverend in charge of the largest cathedral in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh is accused of stealing more than $1,000 worth of baseball trading cards.—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Casa Malca remains one of the most visually arresting addresses right on the beach, with 70 suites.—
Gina Góngora,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Our Top Picks Nordic Knots’s elegant Scandinavian style (and penchant for arresting patterns) have made their rugs a hot commodity among design lovers like the AD team since their inception in 2016.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
History finally catches up to the present in The Secret Agent’s final scene, when one of the women tasked with conserving Armando’s testimonies tracks down his now-adult son, Fernando (also played by Moura), to learn more about his family history.—
Michael Snyder,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Groundcovers also help the garden by shading the soil, conserving moisture, and preventing erosion.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Adjust a subscription or renegotiate a small fee, then record the change, because tracking progress reinforces confidence and protects your careful planning.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 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 17 Mar. 2026.
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