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
EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
After Stage 2, Reddick can adjust his strategy based on how many stage points Bowman has: If Bowman gets, say, 15 stage points, that moves Reddick’s clinch scenario down to getting a top-15.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2025
Christian Romo, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The Crew, still the best team in baseball, is on the verge of clinching a spot in the playoffs.
—Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clinch
Verb
But when they’re caught in a clinch by a reporter, the two agree to pretend to be dating and be each other’s partners on the court to help save the club and Niko’s career.
—EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
After Stage 2, Reddick can adjust his strategy based on how many stage points Bowman has: If Bowman gets, say, 15 stage points, that moves Reddick’s clinch scenario down to getting a top-15.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
Put simply, the Tigers' magic number is the combined number of Tigers wins and losses from certain teams that would clinch one of the outcomes, whether that be a playoff appearance, a division title or a top seed in the playoffs.
—Christian Romo, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The Crew, still the best team in baseball, is on the verge of clinching a spot in the playoffs.
—Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clinch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinch
Verb
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How would Trump react to his administration now getting to decide the fate of CNN?—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
12 Sep. 2025
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Ego Nwodim has decided to leave the NBC show after seven seasons.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Click the video below to see a sweet brotherly reunion filled with the kind of hug that comes with happy tears and pure joy.—
Ronnie Li,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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There was another meeting at Perry’s home in 2021, during which Dixon said the producer again drank too much and allegedly groped Dixon during a good-night hug, according to The Hollywood Reporter.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At the plaza, Seth Teasdale was nearby as Kirk flung some caps into the crowd, then settled into his seat under the canopy to take questions.—
Rick Jervis,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
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The Cortège gestures toward that transcendence, but too often settles for the kind of veiled enchantment that follows us home through our screens.—
David Hochman,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This is Onwuachi’s loving embrace of the dining community that first saw his potential.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
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There were sure to be some who objected to Oz and his embrace of pseudoscience.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After an initial jam session to determine musical abilities and interests, participants are paired up and assigned to a counselor who manages their activities for the week.—
Jim Clash,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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Reuters was unable to determine whether Pulte or administration officials are aware of Cook’s Atlanta loan estimate.—
Chris Prentice,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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That is leading to less frequent competition, which is not helpful for a sport that has long struggled to find a foothold among the behemoths of the NFL and the NBA.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
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For Hansae, Haiti is not only an additional source of production capacity, but a strategic foothold in Central America, where demand for reliable and cost-competitive manufacturing continues to grow.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But multiple other Democratic districts were up for grabs, too.—
Mary Ramsey
Updated September 9,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
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FashionPuzzle Triple Zip Small Crossbody Bag Over 25,000 five-star ratings prove the FashionPuzzle crossbody bag is a daily grab-and-go favorite.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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After allowing 18 chunk plays and nearly 600 yards of total offense against the Mountaineers, Charlotte’s defense found its footing against the Tar Heels.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
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This was Maxwell’s (classical) theory for electromagnetism, putting the previously distinct notions of electricity and magnetism together into a unified footing.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinch. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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