clench 1 of 2

noun

Definition of clenchnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

clench

2 of 2

verb

ˈklench How to pronounce clench (audio)
as in to grip
to have or keep in one's hands clenched a tissue in his hands as he told his story of misfortune

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Noun
Brazilian democracy has spent the past three years in a near-permanent state of tension – a full-body clench against an ex-president who refused to accept defeat. — Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 25 Nov. 2025 The Cleveland Guardians beat the Detroit Tigers, 5-4, on Thursday night in Game 4 of the ALDS, tying the series and setting up a clench-your-teeth, hold-your-breath series finale. — Ryan Ford, Freep.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
This can lead women to clench their jaws or pelvic muscles, or grind their teeth. — Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026 Years ago, after Jake died, my instinct as a medical student was anger — clenching my teeth and jabbing a pen into my notepad, making a line of inky holes along the margin. — Caroline Cherston, STAT, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for clench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clench
  1. grip
  2. clutch
  3. grasp
  4. hold
  5. grab
Noun
  • The carbon covers the grip, the thumb rest, and the soft-release button, the spots a photographer touches most.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Still, France's propensity to descend into unrest has become scarily regular, as has the inability of Macron's administration to get a grip.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of grip
Verb
  • Those who consistently fall short are replaced by some of the dozens of applicants clutching résumés who queue up at the factory gate each morning.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Robotic claws whispered along branching tracks, clutching boxy carriers beneath them like prizes in an arcade game.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of clutch
Noun
  • Falcons gain possession with fumble recovery Maason Smith continued a solid game by punching out the football from the grasp of 49ers running back Kaelon Black, a fumble recovered by Gervon Dexter Sr.
    — AJC.com, AJC.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Both scores were a reflection of Martinez’s grasp of the game’s nuances.
    — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of grasp
Verb
  • Until now, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has insisted the men were still alive and being held by gangs.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The Boise State defense also produced a turnover-on-downs in the final minutes, batting away several shots at the end zone to hold the Cougars to 10 points.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of hold
Verb
  • Finally, grab 32% off the Eufy E340 Security Video Doorbell with Chime, providing dual 2K cameras and color night vision.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026
  • James scored 18 points, grabbed two rebounds and was a minus-22 going up against Paul Reed, and the 76ers were left to hope his presence at center was nothing more than a cameo.
    — Dan Gelston, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of grab

Browse Nearby Words

clemently
clench
clenched
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Cite this Entry

“Clench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clench. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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