as in to decide
to make final, definite, or beyond dispute
the rain clinched the matter: we would have the party indoors
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Recent Examples of clinch
Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 8 Jan. 2026
Coker produced 33 catches for 394 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games, as the Panthers clinched their first NFC South title since 2015.
—Mike Kaye
updated January 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 Jan. 2026
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers watched the Philadelphia Phillies clinch the National League East title on their home diamond after losing Monday's matchup in a back-and-forth duel.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clinch
Verb
The win capped an 11-1 regular season for the Rebels and effectively clinched a berth in the College Football Playoff.
—Noun
The Padres will at some point clinch a playoff berth, perhaps as soon as tomorrow.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinch
Verb
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This past Christmas, as a meaningful and nostalgic compromise, the McAlarneys and a group of other parents from their daughter Maddie's second-grade class all decided to get their children Tin Can landline phones for Christmas.—
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Shanahan and Fangio are considered some of the best offensive and defensive play callers in the sport, and the matchup could decide who moves on to the divisional round.—
Noun
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SpanxShape Faux Leather Leggings Slip into cozy-chic mode in these SpanxShape Faux Leather Leggings that feel like a plush hug against your skin, without restriction.—
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Ryans stood a few yards inside the doorway of the visitors’ locker room and greeted every player with a few words of encouragement and a handshake and hug.—
Verb
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Conditions are expected to be excellent for the days before and after peak, so grab a warm drink and a blanket, settle into a chair, and enjoy one of the most dazzling meteor displays of the year.—
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When she is summoned back to her hometown to settle the death of an absent father, what should be a brief administrative detour unravels into unresolved debts, institutional inertia, and a decaying body caught in bureaucratic limbo.—
Noun
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An alternative might be to deviate even further from his identity, embrace offense, increase the pace and the deployment of small-ball units.—
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Almost 55 years since Southwest’s first flight took off from Dallas Love Field, its CEO has abandoned its distinctive embrace of open seating, single-class cabins and letting customers check two bags for free.—
Verb
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The chairman warned that the outcome of the investigation will determine the future of the central bank’s decisions.—
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Back in October, the Golden Globes announced a longer list of 25 shows eligible for these first-ever podcast nominations, determined by the Globes' data partner, Luminate.—
Noun
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Corporate landlords and investment firms own less than 5% of the nation’s 87 million homes, according to BatchData, though that fraction is growing and obscures bigger footholds in local markets.—
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The acquisition gives CrowdStrike a stronger foothold in identity security, one of the fastest-growing segments in the entire sector.—
Noun
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The deal is regarded as significant as Iglesias’ comedy catalogue was one of the most high-profile still up for grabs on the marketplace.—
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Wilson recorded 61 catches and a team-high six scores in 2023 as a true freshman, but managed just 19 grabs and one score after a hip injury ended his 2024 season.—
Noun
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An intentional big-footing on the part of Live Nation and the stadium?—
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Both landed intact but both also tipped over in the uneven lunar footing.—
Cite this Entry
“Clinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinch. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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