clench 1 of 2

as in grip
the act or manner of holding fearful that his suitcase might be stolen, he never once relaxed his clench on the handle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

clench

2 of 2

verb

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 clench
Verb
After walking out of a prison near Seoul, Yoon waved, clenched his fists and bowed deeply to his supporters who were shouting his name and waving South Korean and U.S. flags. arkansasonline.com, 9 Mar. 2025 Yoon was seen on Saturday waving his hand, clenching his fists and bowing to his supporters who were shouting his name and waving South Korean and U.S. national flags. Landon Mion, Fox News, 8 Mar. 2025 When the ball found the bottom of the cup at 18, Aberg clenched his fist, punched the air, hugged his caddie and smiled. Kirk Kenney, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2025 Emery clenched his fists and pointed in the different directions Diego Carlos could have passed. Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for clench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clench
Noun
  • The now ruling Cambodian People’s Party, in power for over four decades, has justified its grip on the country through the trauma of the genocide.
    Sophal Ear, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Since 2021, he’s been the highest-scoring African player in Premier League history and his grip on that record keeps getting stronger.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In Dyersburg, Tennessee, dozens of people arrived over the weekend at a storm shelter near a public school clutching blankets, pillows and other necessities.
    CBS News, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The video, now viewed more than 7.6 million times and liked over 447,000 times, opens with Pritchard disembarking the treadmill with the help of his friends, and walking stiffly while clutching his chest.
    John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • On a windy, wet and dreary afternoon at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, the Dodgers twice watched a lead slip frustratingly from their grasp.
    Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Even with a gaping net facing him, Ovechkin would very often put pucks as far out of reach from a goalie’s potential grasp.
    Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Does playing Coachella hold any special significance for you?
    Katie Bain, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The group allegedly operated within the Northeast, targeting luxury vehicles – specifically high-end SUVs – by holding victims at gunpoint or bumping the vehicles on a highway, forcing owners to exit their cars.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Antetokounmpo finished the game by scoring 36 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and blocking two shots.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 2025
  • So grab a pencil, a few colors or a coloring book and enjoy your boosted brain power.
    Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clench. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on clench

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!