clinch 1 of 2

verb

ˈklinch How to pronounce clinch (audio)
Definition of clinchnext
as in to decide
to make final, definite, or beyond dispute the rain clinched the matter: we would have the party indoors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

clinch

2 of 2

noun

as in hug

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 clinch
Verb
In doing so, the Rays, per team calculations, reduced their magic number to clinch a playoff spot to at least 12, pending later games. — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Aug. 2026 Polymarket handed Vance a 48% chance of clinching the GOP’s nomination and Rubio a 17% chance as of Friday. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 29 Aug. 2026
Noun
Heat clinches winning record In moving to 42-39, Miami won for only the fourth time in its past 14 games and assured itself of a winning record for the 19th time in 26 seasons this century. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026 By virtue of their relative scarcity—there have been eight empty-the-tank outings since the century began—every Game 7 is an unqualified treat, but the Dodgers’ clinch was one for the ages. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for clinch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinch
  1. decide
  2. hug
  3. settle
  4. embrace
  5. determine
  6. foothold
  7. grab
  8. footing
Verb
  • The 6-foot-3, 170-pound Hayes ultimately decided to continue.
    — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • So Issa decides to bring out the real Paul Baker by inviting over all his bros.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of decide
Noun
  • While the Diamondbacks took batting practice before Tuesday’s game, Banister and Berry laughed together while engaging in a friendly conversation at first base that ended in a hug.
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The mom could be seen jumping out of her seat and covering her face with shaking hands as Marcil pulled her into a hug.
    — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of hug
Verb
  • People who settled here have a very bold spirit and a kind of grit that was required to make it.
    — Christine Lennon, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Separately, New Mexico secured a nearly $1 billion verdict against Meta for creating a public nuisance and exposing minors to harm, prompting Meta to settle with 47 other states for up to $18 billion, though private claims persist.
    — Schuyler Moore, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of settle
Noun
  • He was released into the embrace of his family the day before Thanksgiving.
    — Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Dearborn’s chokehold on the influencer network Chami, who is of Lebanese descent, believes that Dearborn's Arab American influence plays a role in the city's embrace of social media.
    — Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of embrace
Verb
  • Graf also reiterated that his ruling was not a definitive finding of guilt, which will have to be determined by a jury during a future trial.
    — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 2 Sep. 2026
  • In a July 29 order, the court determined Millennia failed to make those fixes.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of determine
Noun
  • Microsoft invested its first $1 billion in OpenAI in 2019, providing the software giant with an early foothold in AI, three years before the launch of ChatGPT.
    — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The deal would give Nvidia a major foothold in open-source AI at a moment when open-source developers are increasingly closing the gap with closed systems from companies such as Anthropic and OpenAI.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of foothold
Noun
  • However, his four catches for 97 yards and one touchdown — including an incredibly athletic 52-yard grab — have his name in a good spot going into this period of uncertainty.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The biggest star for Denver (2-1) was Schrader, the third-year running back who rushed for 42 yards and caught six passes for 90 yards, including the touchdown grab that made it 27-6 and capped a 17-play, 85-yard drive in the second half.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of grab
Noun
  • And now that the company is on firm financial footing, Gayer is rethinking the long-term strategy in order to find more wins in the rare disease space.
    — Brad Quick, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Socialists have found a new footing in the party, with younger and more left-wing insurgents ousting older establishment figures to demand generational and ideological change.
    — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of footing

Browse Nearby Words

climes
clinch
clinched
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinch. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All