How to Use clutch in a Sentence

clutch

1 of 3 verb
  • I had to clutch the counter to keep from falling.
  • He had a book clutched in his hand.
  • The child clutched her mother's hand firmly.
  • Flagg went down clutching his left knee.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Next to her, a young boy covered in dust clutched a fluffy toy.
    — Mo Abbas, NBC News, 12 Apr. 2024
  • Those clutch rebounds in big moments will be the key to this.
    — Zach Harper, New York Times, 5 June 2026
  • Pasquantino ran to first base and appeared to clutch his side.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 14 June 2026
  • The boy clutched it to his chest in overwhelmed delight.
    — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Naumov slipped on the jacket and clutched both hands to his heart.
    — Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
  • You are not welcomed by a man in white linen clutching a room key.
    — Tom Ford, Vogue, 17 Mar. 2023
  • Kids clutched fresh pulls like lottery tickets.
    — Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Others brought flowers, clutched to their chests.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Knickers were twisted and pearls clutched.
    — Dana O'Neil, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Which is what makes you both (and this whole post production team) so clutch.
    — Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Zarutska clutched her throat and collapsed.
    — Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Caiceo rolled around, clutching his leg in pain, as staff members ran up to tend to him.
    — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
  • Watts was wearing a white dress and clutched a bouquet of flowers.
    — Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 8 Jan. 2024
  • Scott started climbing, as Tony clutched the rope from above.
    — Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023
  • On Monday, he could be seen clutching rosary beads.
    — Matt Schooley, CBS News, 1 Dec. 2025
  • Alessandro clutched his dad tightly.
    — Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Before the people all around her clutched their candles and wept.
    — Danielle Paquette, Washington Post, 4 Jan. 2024
  • The actress posed in a field of flowers while clutching her bare chest.
    — Sarah Sotoodeh , Lori A Bashian , Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
  • The actress posed in a field of flowers while clutching her bare chest.
    — Sarah Sotoodeh, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Bednar could then be seen bending over and clutching the side of his head.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
  • The bracket-clutching fans, too.
    — Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 21 Mar. 2026
  • Quiroz was sworn in as mayor while clutching her husband’s white hat.
    — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
  • One woman clutched her young, smiling child with a look of pure horror on her face.
    — Megan Armstrong, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Tagovailoa’s been clutch the last two weeks, which matters as much as stats do.
    — Tim Bielik, cleveland, 29 Sep. 2022
  • Martin, clutching a gun in his left hand, pulled the weapon behind his left leg.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
  • The video ends with Beer, eyes still filled with tears, clutching a locket in bed.
    — Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025

clutch

2 of 3 noun
  • Swift and a clutch forced turnover.
    — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Adapt & win or pearl clutch & lose.
    — NPR, 18 Oct. 2025
  • To be able to come in clutch, that was huge.
    — Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Razo has stepped up in the clutch.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
  • Here, a guest goes for a tonal look with a pop of red via her clutch.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 21 May 2026
  • Their first clutch of two eggs was destroyed by ravens last month.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
  • There was Metcalf’s clutch catch at the end of the game.
    — Mike Defabo, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The pair laid a second clutch with two eggs weeks later.
    — Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Layers and spare footwear for wet sand and choppy surf come in clutch.
    — Madison Chapman, Outside, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Those clutch games often include his legs.
    — Zach Berman, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
  • Young stayed with him and caught him with the clutch birdie on the par-3 17th.
    — ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026
  • One clutch play to make history.
    — Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
  • That’s when places like Great Wolf Lodge come in clutch.
    — Madison Flager, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 May 2026
  • Even small clutches are not allowed.
    — Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2025
  • And don’t forget his clutch hitting.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
  • The clutch looks to be black and offers a touch of contrast to the rest of the look.
    — Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 2 July 2026
  • Then Tuch chipped in the clutch insurance goal late.
    — Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The chicks were part of the second clutch Jackie laid this year.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 1 May 2026
  • What followed was a series of clutch plays from the Dream.
    — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 24 May 2026
  • Down to his final strike, Godfried came through in the clutch.
    — Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 30 May 2026
  • And to take the clutch shots in the most pressurized moment.
    — Christian Clark, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
  • This deal has come in clutch to revive your gaming setup.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 18 May 2026
  • This deal has come in clutch to revive your gaming setup.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 22 May 2026
  • This deal has come in clutch to revive your gaming setup.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 26 May 2026
  • Pair it with a small clutch and some light accessories to finish the look.
    — Melanie Curry, Glamour, 16 Oct. 2023
  • Dončić has only played in 12 clutch games and has 21 points.
    — Zach Harper, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Pair it with an oversized clutch and tall boots to really turn heads.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 27 Jan. 2026
  • This deal is coming in clutch to upgrade your gaming.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Finish off the look with a simple black leather clutch or shoulder bag.
    — Clare Holden, Glamour, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Three golden points were within the clutch of their fingers.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 12 May 2026

clutch

3 of 3 adjective
  • She scored a clutch basket.
  • She’s been clutch with the bat.
    — Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
  • The queen size turned out to be clutch, too.
    — Jenny Wiegand, Outside, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Well, clutch hitting is part of it.
    — ABC News, 17 May 2026
  • There are clutch players in this world.
    — Murat Ates, New York Times, 25 May 2026
  • Clark simply has the clutch gene.
    — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
  • High marks for sheer clutch factor here.
    — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
  • All five wins have involved clutch time.
    — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 14 Jan. 2026
  • There’s got to be a clutch gene in there somewhere.
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The offense will have to come up with more clutch hits.
    — Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Thomas has been clutch for the Royals this week.
    — Jaylon Thompson may 2, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026
  • Caera Hart was clutch in net to secure the shutout.
    — Marcello Rossetti, Boston Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
  • Or maybe a knack for clutch hitting was involved.
    — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Toys which keep them active and engaged are clutch.
    — Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025
  • And the array of pockets for phones, snacks, and gear is clutch.
    — The Editors, Outside, 2 Dec. 2025
  • Wembanyama’s two clutch jumpers all but sealed the game.
    — Jared Weiss, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026
  • What is new is clutch goaltending.
    — Arpon Basu, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Who is winning these clutch games and banking the early wins?
    — Zach Harper, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
  • And that is getting back to its clutch identity with the game on the line.
    — Jesse Newell, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Kenady’s clutch plays helped the Redhawks put the game away.
    — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2026
  • When you’re exhausted after a long day, this pan is clutch.
    — Olivia Tarantino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Dec. 2025
  • Monday was the second clutch game in this series.
    — Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
  • But the clutch moments from quieter names like Lukes count for just as much.
    — The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Unlike past seasons, the 49ers were clutch late in games.
    — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
  • The Pistons have been in more clutch-time games than any team in the playoffs.
    — Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 14 May 2026
  • The actress added beaded earrings and a clutch purse.
    — Catherine Santino, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
  • This team is too good, too clutch, too tight to bow out in the divisional round.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
  • The Lakers are 6-2 in clutch games in March.
    — Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
  • The key is familiar enough, but there’s no start button, clutch, or gear change.
    — Ben Purvis, WIRED, 6 Aug. 2022
  • Williams added two more points to the lead shortly after, hitting two clutch free throws.
    — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 13 June 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clutch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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