as in clutched
to have or keep in one's hands
clenched a tissue in his hands as he told his story of misfortune
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 clenched
As Rathbun and other officers retreated, Webster clenched both fists, crouched into a linebacker’s stance, and charged into Rathbun, knocking him to the ground.
—
Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
My muscles, head, neck and back were clenched.
—William D. Brown, Outdoor Life, 13 Nov. 2025
Her purplish hands remained clenched on her chest.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
To estimate 10 degrees in the sky, use the width of your clenched first held at arm's length.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025
As a model named Carl, stuck in a relationship corrupted by microcelebrity and Instagram view counts, Dickinson ticks with exasperation and sarcastic logic, his jaw clenched, his eyes wide and staring.
—Carrie Battan, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
Lalay, a 15-foot crocodile, was not amused and spent half an hour thrashing around with the man’s leg clenched in her teeth, until the park owner clocked her over the head with a block of concrete to get her to let go.
—Kassondra Cloos, Outside, 10 Sep. 2025
Yang Guoliang said, his hands clenched in fists.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
With his jaw clenched and sights set on being the next James Bond, Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays Major Will Tranter, a bomb disposal pro who’s both an ace sniper and a bit of a loose cannon, breaking protocol in his obsessive attempt to deactivate the vintage ordnance with minimal casualties.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clenched
Verb
-
To complete her outfit, Kylie clutched a White Birkin Faubourg House Alligator Bag, which is worth anywhere from $200K to upwards of $300K, according to Sotheby's.—
-
Raynaud clutched his left knee while writhing in pain before limping off the floor with assistance from head athletic trainer Joel Noland.—
Verb
-
Venezuela is gripped by fear and uncertainty in the aftermath of the removal of longtime leader Nicolás Maduro, with many inside the country questioning whether his capture truly signals the end of the authoritarian system that has ruled for years.—
-
In a court case that gripped the nation, Karen Read was cleared of the murder charges relating to the death of her boyfriend John O’Keefe, a Boston police officer.—
Verb
-
The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.—
-
That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.—
Cite this Entry
“Clenched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clenched. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share