clutching

verb

present participle of clutch
as in clenching
to have or keep in one's hands he clutched the eggs carefully so he wouldn't drop them

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 clutching As the deli’s surveillance video rolled, his client went from calmly standing at the counter with a bottle of Gatorade to staggering to the floor, clutching his leg and tearing at his pants. — Alison J. Stein, HubSpot, 1 Sep. 2026 In a satiric short video, Rabid Dogs, 2002, for example, white-collar workers dress upas rapacious canines, clutching Burberry bags in their mouths and traversing cubicles on all fours. — Pablo Larios, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026 Many shuffled between the help desk and the hospital notice board, clutching photographs and scanning injured patients' lists in the hope of finding them. — Arkansas Online, 30 Aug. 2026 Many shuffled between the help desk and the hospital notice board, clutching photographs and scanning injured patients’ lists in the hope of finding them. — Victoria Milko, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Garcia lends the whole song theater-kid interpretation, essentially acting out the lyrics in pantomime, grasping out in front of her, clutching her face. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026 Austin appeared to be clutching at his right knee while on the ground, clearly in a lot of pain. — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Instead of constantly clutching it and taking it out of your bag for photos and map directions, a strap keeps your phone hands-free, secure, and instantly accessible. — Annita Katee, Travel + Leisure, 22 Aug. 2026 Up the hillside there ever pours in reinforcements, clutching cans of beer and occasionally flags…There is something about it all of a children’s crusade, the young people look so innocent and take their pleasure so gravely. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clutching
  1. clenching
  2. gripping
  3. holding
  4. grabbing
Verb
  • 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
  • Janet held the phone away from her ear, clenching her teeth against Maggie’s booming voice.
    — Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
Definition of clenching
Verb
  • The case has become a national cultural fixation and a social media spectacle, gripping and dividing spectators well beyond the Massachusetts courtroom where the 36-year-old mother is charged with killing her three young children.
    — Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Fundamentals like gripping the football properly to prevent fumbles, or tackling and lowering your hips to wrap up and drive a player rather than using shoulder pads or lowering the head, which put players at risk for neck and head injuries.
    — Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of gripping
Verb
  • Markets are currently pricing in a near 50-50 chance of the Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee hiking rates versus holding them at their September meeting, according to the CME’s FedWatch tool.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Harvey adjusted for Nix’s throw, leaping up at the front of the end zone and holding onto the ball through contact.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of holding
Verb
  • Madrid may have grand monuments, lvish fountains, domed neoclassical buildings and Renaissance squares, yet the Spanish capital has sometimes been overshadowed by seemingly headline-grabbing cities such as Barcelona or Seville.
    — Eddi Fiegel, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2026
  • From a Dooney & Bourke handbag marked down by nearly $150 to a cozy Peanuts Halloween blanket for less than $24, our readers have been busy grabbing all the biggest discounts across fashion, home essentials, travel gear and fall staples.
    — Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of grabbing

Browse Nearby Words

clutches
clutching
clutter
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Cite this Entry

“Clutching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clutching. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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