clinch

1 of 2

verb

clinched; clinching; clinches

transitive verb

1
2
a
: to turn over or flatten the protruding pointed end of (a driven nail)
also : to treat (a screw, a bolt, a rivet, etc.) in a similar way
b
: to fasten in this way
3
a
: to make final or irrefutable : settle
that clinched the argument
b
: to assure the winning of
scored a touchdown to clinch the game

intransitive verb

1
: to hold an opponent (as in boxing) at close quarters with one or both arms
2
: to hold fast or firmly
clinchingly adverb

clinch

2 of 2

noun

1
: a fastening by means of a clinched nail, rivet, or bolt
also : the clinched part of a nail, rivet, or bolt
2
archaic : pun
3
: an act or instance of clinching in boxing
4

Examples of clinch in a Sentence

Verb His home run clinched the victory. The new evidence clinches the case. Her work on the project should clinch her a promotion. The photos of the city have clinched it for me. I have to visit Prague. If they win tonight's game they'll clinch the pennant. Noun The referee told the boxers to break their clinch.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Based on midweek sales and streaming data captured by the Official Charts Company, Eternal Sunshine has a slim edge and should clinch a second week at No. 1. Lars Brandle, Billboard, 19 Mar. 2024 She's clinched three world titles since then, is considered the reigning sprint European champion and is an Olympic medalist. Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024 In a rematch of the 2022 final – which Świątek clinched with a similarly imperious 6-4 6-1 win – the Pole narrowly edged a back-and-forth opening set, but the second was over in the blink of an eye. Matias Grez, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 In his first rally since effectively clinching the Republican Presidential nomination, Trump made what amounted to his response to Joe Biden’s State of the Union address. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2024 The visit was part of a two-day swing through Wisconsin and Michigan that started Wednesday as the president looks to create momentum for his reelection campaign after clinching the Democratic nomination on Tuesday night. Joey Cappelletti, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 Standing on stage during the trophy presentation, the fifth-year guard, the only player on USC’s roster that predated Gottlieb’s three-year tenure, slapped a sticker of USC’s logo on an oversized ticket as USC clinched an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024 Alabama broke Arkansas' press before the Razorbacks could foul and freshman forward Mark Walters scored on a breakaway dunk with three seconds left to clinch the game. Bob Holt, arkansasonline.com, 10 Mar. 2024 Related Articles Schiff also became nationally known for leading two impeachment efforts against former President Donald Trump, who also won in his own California primary, coming near to clinching the GOP nomination for a rematch with President Biden. Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2024
Noun
Shields, a two-time gold medalist and multiple-time boxing champion, still admittedly has some things to learn about the clinch and escaping if she's taken down, but what remains clear is her advantage in striking. Brian Mazique, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 One win over any of the three clinches Panama’s spot in the four-team semifinals. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2024 For what struck me most about the Ferrante novel was how those feelings of intense, self-lacerating jealousy coexisted with deep love; the girls love and uphold each other, like boxers resting in a moment of clinch. Mary Gaitskill, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024 South Carroll field hockey clinches return to state title after defeating Patuxent in thriller. Timothy Dashiell, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2024 Knots like the improved clinch and uni are quick to tie, as is the Palomar knot, which is regarded as one of the strongest fishing knots ever created. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 18 Oct. 2023 Even during our coffee, Lane was unable to describe an emotional clinch with the sewer creatures without bursting into laughter. Kyle Buchanan, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2023 The hanging jumper from the foul line over Craig Ehlo at the buzzer in Game 5 clinches the first-round series for the Bulls. Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2023 Thankfully, Alek Keshishian isn’t rushing to go any such place in the final clinch; her further recovery will be a series of subtle adjustments, it’s suggested, rather than any savior in a white coat or sudden deus-ex-machine sense of redemptive self-worth. Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Nov. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clinch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably alteration of clench

First Known Use

Verb

1542, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1659, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of clinch was in 1542

Dictionary Entries Near clinch

Cite this Entry

“Clinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clinch. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

clinch

1 of 2 verb
1
a
: to turn over or flatten the end of something sticking out
clinch a nail
b
: to fasten by clinching
2
a
: to make final : settle
the evidence clinched the case
b
: to assure the winning of
a touchdown that clinched the game

clinch

2 of 2 noun
1
: a fastening by means of a clinched nail, rivet, or bolt
2
: the clinched part of a nail, bolt, or rivet

Geographical Definition

Clinch

geographical name

river about 300 miles (480 kilometers) long in southwestern Virginia and eastern Tennessee flowing southwest into the Tennessee River

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