PINCHES Synonyms: 198 Similar and Opposite Words

pinches 1 of 2

noun

plural of pinch

as in thefts

an instance of theft the pinch of my favorite sweater really bugged me!

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Relevance

as in arrests

the act of taking into one's control by authority of law an innocent person caught up in a city-wide pinch of drug dealers

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as in lacks

a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number this labor pinch means that there'll be long lines at the checkouts

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pinches

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of pinch

as in holds

to squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points the zipper on those jeans always pinches me

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as in steals

to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep pinched the earrings while the boutique owner was distracted by another customer

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as in seizes

to take or keep under one's control by authority of law pinched the purse snatcher just two blocks from where he had robbed the old lady

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as in saves

to avoid unnecessary waste or expense if we pinch hard for the upcoming year, we can probably afford the vacation at that fancy resort

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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 pinches

Verb

There will be a moment in the frenzy at the Estadio Azteca, probably as the teams take to the field or the first ball is kicked in anger, when Darren Thompson pinches himself to be witnessing all this first-hand. — Rob Tanner, New York Times, 5 July 2026 Dad pinches my cheek between his first two fingers with a soppy look in his eyes. — Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025 There’s the moment Stanton’s Håkon Werle pinches the back of his son’s neck, like a cruel master bringing his dog to heel. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2025 For Spraggins’ colleague, Josie Wheeler — who still sometimes pinches herself at going from bartending to meetings with nuclear power plant operators — Accenture is a lifetime commitment. — Andy Tonsing, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 This pinches the space between them so only the high-k dielectric completely surrounds them. — IEEE Spectrum, 14 Dec. 2017

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinches

Noun

Similar thefts and vandalism have also happened recently at shuttered schools in San Jose.

— Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
According to El País, police arrested a man on September 17 in Valladolid’s Arturo Eyries neighborhood after witnesses helped investigators connect a series of church thefts committed between July and September.

— Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of thefts

Noun

Police made at least 272 arrests across the country, including in Paris.

— SYLVIE CORBET, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Under his leadership, the Office of Statewide Prosecution secured 2,000 arrests and hundreds of years in prison for those who prey on our state’s children.

— Kimberly Bird, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrests

Verb

Sid is smart enough to sniff this out, and the show seizes the opportunity to raise the romantic stakes through an adorably British expression of mutual libidinousness.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
That reporting revealed that the state frequently seizes money from legal settlements stemming from medical malpractice, police brutality, workplace injury and other wrongful death lawsuits.

— Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of seizes

Verb

While uptight Elinor excels at hiding her feelings for the similarly taciturn Edward, Marianne goes wild (nearly feral, really) when new neighbor Willoughby saves her from physical injury (literally sweeping her off her feet and a wincing ankle).

— Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026
These missions are clearly well-intentioned, and every skimmer removed saves families from being deprived of food.

— Eli Hager, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of saves

Noun

Myers had seven catches for 135 yards, twice tying the game in the second half with scoring grabs of 14 and 12 yards.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Meuser’s seat is considered safe, but other races in the state are up for grabs, including in the 7th and 8th districts, which are near the Post and Trivium factories.

— Bernard Condon, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026