1
2
as in arrest
the act of taking into one's control by authority of law
an innocent person caught up in a city-wide pinch of drug dealers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
this labor pinch means that there'll be long lines at the checkouts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in to steal
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 to arrest
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 to save
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
as in extra
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of pinch
Susan Slusser, SFChronicle.com, 26 Sep. 2020
Jeremiah Langhorne, Saveur, 4 Sep. 2025
Longoria doesn’t try to recreate that glory but applies a similar formula, adding a pinch of Mexican cultural identity and bilingualism to a recipe that worked so well for the Rob-and-Ryan series.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
PC Magazine, 24 Aug. 2025
Some plants with tough stems require cutting the stem for removal, while other plants with softer stems can be pinched back to remove flower heads by hand.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pinch
Noun
Pinch runner Tony Kemp was then stranded at third, emblematic of Oakland’s offensive frustrations, as Ramón Laureano struck out, Canha walked, Olson popped up and pinch-hitter Robbie Grossman struck out against Casey Sadler.
—Susan Slusser, SFChronicle.com, 26 Sep. 2020
Verb
When the foam subsides, add the onion, thyme, bay leaf, and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are tender, translucent, and deeply golden brown, 8–10 minutes.
—Jeremiah Langhorne, Saveur, 4 Sep. 2025
Longoria doesn’t try to recreate that glory but applies a similar formula, adding a pinch of Mexican cultural identity and bilingualism to a recipe that worked so well for the Rob-and-Ryan series.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Otherwise, the Galaxy Watch 8 has Samsung’s One UI 8 interface on top of Wear OS 6 to put its own spin on interacting with your watch, with support for gesture controls to dismiss an alarm by twisting your wrist or take a picture by double-pinching your fingers.
—PC Magazine, 24 Aug. 2025
Some plants with tough stems require cutting the stem for removal, while other plants with softer stems can be pinched back to remove flower heads by hand.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pinch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinch
Noun
-
The tactics have transcended low-level website defacements and data theft too and now extend to more destructive attacks on systems such as energy grids, gas pipelines, and undersea cables.—
Brian Walsh,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Gonzalez-Rasalas was charged with murder, desecrating a body and auto theft in a gruesome 2023 Easter Sunday homicide.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Court records show that a majority of Stevenson's arrests are related to the unlawful possession of a firearm or narcotics.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Kelley shared a series of alarming posts to her Instagram account in the days leading up to her arrest, some of which contained allegations of abuse, while others included personal information that could be used to identify Scott and others.—
Ryan Coleman September 2,
EW.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But 2025 marks the highest number of staffing shortages since 2018.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
This is driven by a shortage of primary care doctors and patients’ desire for more personalized care, Harrell said.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Namajunas held onto the belt in the rematch in November 2021, defeating Zhang via split decision.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
For investment firms of the ultra wealthy, deal-making held steady in August.—
Hayley Cuccinello,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The bots would impersonate beneficiaries, using dates of birth and other information that can be found on the internet, to try to change the beneficiaries’ bank-routing information and steal their benefits.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Through the first week of September, Soto stole three bases.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Video surveillance from the scene posted online by Fox 11 shows a man lingering near a doorway, quickly grabbing the gift box from a table and running out of the venue.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The owner wanted to keep the grab-and-go options previously offered in the space.—
La Risa R. Lynch,
jsonline.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The two wanted the Power of Veto winner to use the ability to keep Panaro, but instead, the winner saved themselves.—
Dina Kaur,
AZCentral.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
For engineers and designers, this framework is like giving a GPS map through the complex terrain of foam design—saving months of trial-and-error testing.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
That change is expected to cost Kentucky's general fund an extra $50 million in fiscal year 2027 and $66 million in fiscal year 2028, according to a presentation from State Budget Director John Hicks.—
Hannah Pinski,
The Courier-Journal,
3 Sep. 2025
-
His work at the clinic earned him the Highest Pro Bono Distinction at graduation, which was awarded for working more than 150 extra pro bono hours above the normal course requirements of the clinic.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinch. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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