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as in reduced
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2
as in gaunt
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as in stole
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in arrested
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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4
as in saved
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
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Recent Examples of pinched
Adi Guajardo, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
They are pinched into a bright, almost surgical nasality or burst loose into grand, sideways arcs, flaring out in a feral yelp.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 21 Dec. 2025
The virus is then pinched off into a vesicle and carried deeper into the cell, toward the nucleus.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 12 Dec. 2025
To Americans pinched by rising prices, such declines might seem enviable.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 1 Dec. 2025
Your dough should look crumbly but stick together when pinched with two fingers.
—Endia Fontanez, AZCentral.com, 18 Nov. 2025
That dynamic has boosted the big-box retailer's business for more than two years, especially as shoppers across all incomes have felt pinched by higher grocery prices.
—Amelia Lucas,melissa Repko,gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 14 Nov. 2025
The basketball star playfully pinched his son’s cheek after the United States team beat Venezuela.
—Alexandra Hurtado, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Among the royal gems that were pinched is a necklace, with eight sapphires and 631 diamonds, and the crown of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, encrusted with nearly 2,000 diamonds and 212 pearls.
—Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
Some riders have gotten stuck between the gates CBS News New York cameras captured a woman with her head pinched between the gates.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinched
Adjective
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Drive at a reduced speed during wet weather.—
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The reduced monthly payments can improve affordability for a period until home prices adjust in response to changes in the rates.—
Adjective
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During the conversation, Van Der Beek opened up about the overwhelming response to his gaunt appearance during September's Dawson's Creek reunion.—
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Van Der Beek's notably gaunt face sparked speculation about his condition amid his cancer battle.—
Verb
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The injury bug has nipped at the Packers all season, and now is no different, especially on special teams.—
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Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson nipped that idea in the bud following Saturday night’s loss.—
Verb
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The perfect partner for the look is a powder pink clutch and stole, both with embroidery that matches the dress.—
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What also stole the show was her custom Lorraine Schwartz bling, particularly her diamond rings and custom earrings, which were made with 75 carats worth of diamonds in a cluster arrangement.—
Verb
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Adolescence follows a 13-year-old boy, Jamie Miller (Cooper), who is accused and arrested for murdering a teenage girl in his class.—
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Local officials have called for immigration authorities to leave the city and for the officer behind the shooting to be arrested.—
Verb
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Her mother, Lyons, believes that vaccination may have been what saved her life.—
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His experiments are saved by Henrich Harlander (Christoph Waltz), a wealthy benefactor who funds Victor's work.—
Adjective
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Now, the film is a downright classic, centering on three haggard witches (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy) who go on a hilarious misadventure while trying to remain young forever.—
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In addition to skiing excursions, the winter sports menu includes such trying activities as snow shoe walking, ice diving, and dog sledding—great backdrops in front of which drunken or haggard travelers can snip at each other.—
Verb
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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.—
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That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.—
Cite this Entry
“Pinched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinched. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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