clinched; clinching; clinches
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
1
: to hold an opponent (as in boxing) at close quarters with one or both arms
2
: to hold fast or firmly
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
Yara Elshebiny, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The plan to build Roy Blunt Luminary Park, named after the former United States senator from Missouri who helped clinch federal funding for the project, has been in the works for years.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers watched the Philadelphia Phillies clinch the National League East title on their home diamond after losing Monday's matchup in a back-and-forth duel.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clinch
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Verb
McLaren is also on the brink of securing their second consecutive championship, now sitting pretty at the top of the constructors’ standings with 617 points and needing just a one-two finish - or to outscore Ferrari by nine points - in Baku to clinch the title.
—Yara Elshebiny, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The plan to build Roy Blunt Luminary Park, named after the former United States senator from Missouri who helped clinch federal funding for the project, has been in the works for years.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
The Padres will at some point clinch a playoff berth, perhaps as soon as tomorrow.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers watched the Philadelphia Phillies clinch the National League East title on their home diamond after losing Monday's matchup in a back-and-forth duel.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clinch
Cite this Entry
“Clinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clinch. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clinch
2 of 2 noun1
: 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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