as in close
giving or sharing as little as possible
neighborhood kids who were trick-or-treating knew better than to bother to knock on that pinching couple's door
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in saving
the quality or practice of being overly sparing with money
this constant pinching is getting ridiculous—we can afford to turn on one or two lights!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in stealing
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
pinched the earrings while the boutique owner was distracted by another customer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in arresting
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in conserving
to avoid unnecessary waste or expense
if we pinch hard for the upcoming year, we can probably afford the vacation at that fancy resort
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pinching
Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2025
Walter’s first full season in charge was the end of the penny pinching that existed under prior owner Frank McCourt.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The shoes have a wide toe box with plenty of room for feet to spread out, which helps prevent painful pinching and accommodates foot issues.
—Isabel Garcia, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Phil Wahba, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
The chain, which got its start in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1950, has been a favorite for penny-pinching burger lovers for decades now and its new Whatdeals will help cement that reputation.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2026
This luxuriant, almost decadent virtuosity can feel out of synch with a tale of miserable, penny-pinching extremes.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2025
After all, debt collection activity has picked up recently, thanks in large part to interest rates remaining elevated, inflation pinching household budgets and more Americans leaning on credit cards to bridge their budgetary gaps.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
The wide top band keeps everything in place without pinching, and the interior features a soft, cushiony texture that feels warm without adding bulk.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 18 Dec. 2025
Remove your loose tinsel from your tree branches by pinching it in the center again, and pull straight upwards to easily free it from its place on your tree.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Dec. 2025
Plus, there are no pinching buttons or zippers thanks to the elastic waistband.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
While there have been many fine adaptations of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Alastair Sim's performance as the miserly, penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge elevates this version to must-see status.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
Made from SpanxSmooth material—a lightweight nylon-and-elastane blend—the bralette feels almost weightless and provides gentle smoothing without any digging or pinching.
—Verb
And as often happens with private equity acquisitions of retailers, the companies were larded with unsustainable debt, which made investing in the core business more difficult and led to penny-pinching measures that have been destructive to the businesses.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinching
Adjective
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Traffic concerns remained a prominent theme of the more than 100 emails the city received in early December, but many people expressed excitement at the prospect of a closer Costco.—
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The Clippers raced to a 14-5 lead, but the Knicks answered with eight straight points and the game was close for the first three quarters.—
Noun
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The language of manifesting your dreams into reality might sound nonsensical or contrived, but to JOP, his magical thinking became his saving grace.—
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The concealer is available in 24 shades, with savings of up to 58 percent.—
Verb
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Jeff Bezos holding the device high.—
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This loss had to be especially tough for the Jayhawks, considering a controversial holding call on KU changed the momentum of the game.—
Verb
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Bregman played his first nine seasons with the Houston Astros, winning World Series titles in 2017 and 2022 — although the first of those yielded a sign-stealing scandal that earned Bregman and his teammates plenty of scorn.—
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Jacob Elordi is known for stealing hearts on and off-screen.—
Verb
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The arresting officer’s injuries did not require medical attention, Frasier told the Idaho Statesman by email.—
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The government is also still cracking down on dissent, arresting people for celebrating Maduro’s capture.—
Verb
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This allows robots to use power for thrust when needed and deploy wings to glide when conserving battery.—
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The highway department will strategically apply salt to intersections, hills, bridges and curbs in subdivisions, but aim for conserving on other stretches of subdivision roads.—
Adjective
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Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
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These soft and chewy treats are the result of dozens of careful recipe tests.—
Noun
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Inflation continues to pressure consumers The holiday economizing comes as Americans continue to battle inflation, which rose after the COVID-19 pandemic to levels not seen since the 1980s.—
Cite this Entry
“Pinching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinching. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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