pinched 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of pinchednext
1
as in reduced

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2
as in gaunt

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pinched

2 of 2

verb

past tense of pinch
1
as in nipped
to squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points the zipper on those jeans always pinches me

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2
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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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinched
  1. gaunt
  2. nipped
  3. arrested
  4. haggard
  5. held
  6. swiped
  7. seized
  8. bankrupt
Adjective
  • Antonio ended up in intensive care at Dell’s Children's Medical Center and was gaunt, his blood coagulating.
    Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American-Statesman, 24 Nov. 2024
  • The hostages appeared gaunt in the disturbing black-and-white footage.
    Andrea Vacchiano, Fox News, 2 Sep. 2024
Definition of gaunt
Verb
  • When nipped by frosts or freezes their flowers may be lost but the plants grow back.
    Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Dec. 2024
  • In the end, Tuku dominated, and Lavo just nipped Gata, sending the yellow tribe to Tribal Council.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 17 Oct. 2024
Definition of nipped
Verb
  • With a new haircut, Mangione agreed to be extradited to New York from Pennsylvania on Thursday after he was arrested at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on December 9.
    Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
  • An Elgin man who allegedly made threats against Illinois Park School and one of its employees has been arrested on felony charges, Kane County court records show.
    Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 24 Dec. 2024
Definition of arrested
Adjective
  • The face that confronted him was haggard and gaunt, its hair and beard unkempt.
    Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
  • These are films about a haggard failson trying to hold his life together with the help of a wise-cracking goo monster who longs for the taste of human brains.
    Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 24 Oct. 2024
Definition of haggard
Verb
  • The chief executives of all three held a joint press conference in Tokyo.
    Kantaro Komiya, The Tennessean, 24 Dec. 2024
  • He is currently being held at a federal detention center in Brooklyn.
    Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
Definition of held
Verb
  • The Nationals just swiped Lowe from the Rangers.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Another day, another car reportedly swiped from East Baltimore’s streets.
    Rebecca Pryor, Baltimore Sun, 24 Dec. 2024
Definition of swiped
Verb
  • Adebayo did not force his offense, in a game where there was little for the Heat to have to counter in the middle, but then seized control with his scoring late.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Before Hamas seized full control of Gaza in 2007, Christians would often place a large Christmas tree near a major square in Gaza City.
    Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
Definition of seized
Adjective
  • Caustic put-downs of Milton Berle, Jim Henson, and Johnny Carson anticipate the partisan snark by which SNL would pillory Millennial conservatives as non-hip — the antiquated value that has bankrupt stand-up comedy today.
    Armond White, National Review, 1 Jan. 2025
  • The tech giant has held talks with Warner Bros Discovery and other media majors about some form of collaboration and has also been a white knight for bankrupt regional sports network owner Diamond Sports Group.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 25 Dec. 2024
Definition of bankrupt
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near pinched

pinchbeck

pinched

pinched pennies

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Cite this Entry

“Pinched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinched. Accessed 4 Jan. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pinched

Nglish: Translation of pinched for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of pinched for Arabic Speakers

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