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
The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 28 May 2025
The Eagles were just one out away from clinching a spot in the CIF-SS Division 6 championship game, but the tying run was also just 90 feet away from scoring.
—David Delgado, Oc Register, 27 May 2025
Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Enter, the clinch cover: book jackets featuring a couple in a passionate embrace.
—Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 1 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for clinch
Verb
Although Minnesota has clinched more Western Conference finals berths in the last two seasons (well, two) than its 34 years of existence, most of the Timberwolves’ series against the Thunder showed the gap between the franchises.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 28 May 2025
The Eagles were just one out away from clinching a spot in the CIF-SS Division 6 championship game, but the tying run was also just 90 feet away from scoring.
—David Delgado, Oc Register, 27 May 2025
Noun
Ramirez needs to stay active and not accept the clinch of his opponent.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Enter, the clinch cover: book jackets featuring a couple in a passionate embrace.
—Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 1 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for clinch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinch
Verb
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As mentioned above, there are myriad factors—international transportation bottlenecks, natural disasters and supplier insolvency, among others—that need to be considered simultaneously in real time to decide what’s best for the business.—
Sadagopan S,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
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Those include the major questions doctrine, which says Congress needs to give clear authorization for federal agencies to decide issues of major economic significance, and the nondelegation doctrine, which holds that Congress can't delegate its legislative power to the executive branch.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
29 May 2025
Noun
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The smell of fresh cut grass, the warm hug of balmy days, and the familiar sound of the screen door slapping closed as the free-range children run in for a quick reprieve from the heat, all the sights and sounds of the season are in full swing.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
5 June 2025
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Below, Bridges and Ritter discuss their easy chemistry, following in their fathers’ footsteps and the power of a good hug.—
Jenelle Riley,
Variety,
5 June 2025
Verb
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They were welcomed into the world at 29 weeks and spent some time in NICU before settling into their home with their two brothers, who are now two and four years old.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
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Those CBAs also require that should there be a dispute as to whether the league, a club, a union, or a player abided by their obligations under the CBA, such dispute be settled through a confidential arbitration process.—
Chris Deubert,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Noun
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The bitcoin price has rocketed over the last two years, turbo-charged by Wall Street adoption led by the world’s largest asset manager BlackRock and then U.S. president Donald Trump’s embrace of the technology (with Elon Musk quietly plotting what could be a bitcoin price game-changer).—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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The starkest example is the embrace of a revisionist telling of the Capitol riots that plays down the violence that Biden-era Justice Department officials labeled as domestic terrorism.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
31 May 2025
Verb
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Wakanda Forever, the show follows Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), a young genius inventor determined to make her mark on the world.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
-
There is no update on the containment of the fire and its cause has not yet been determined.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
1 June 2025
Noun
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But as college sports hurtles toward revenue-sharing and a new era of athlete compensation, the faculty’s traditionally modest foothold is all but gone.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
29 May 2025
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Rhode launched in 2022, quickly gaining a foothold with Gen Z through its skincare, lip balms, and viral phone case.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
29 May 2025
Noun
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This means that both white-collar and blue-collar jobs are up for grabs.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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The 157th running of the Belmont Stakes will once again be held at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, with a share of $2 million up for grabs.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
7 June 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, Bellinger, who won an MVP Award with the Dodgers in 2019, has found his footing after a rocky start, hitting .318 with five homers and 16 RBI this month.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
29 May 2025
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The lack of consistency in testing players' drivers and putters puts things on an unequal footing.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinch. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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