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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clinch
Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
Both Italy and Germany improved to 2-1 and joined Sweden (3-0) in completing the three Group B nations to clinch a quarterfinal berth.
—John Wawrow, Twin Cities, 10 Feb. 2026
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
Verb
Although uncharacteristic mistakes landed her in third in that particular event, Glenn eventually won gold as part of Team USA when teammate Ilia Malinin's men's free skate pushed the American squad past Team Japan to clinch the top spot.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
Both Italy and Germany improved to 2-1 and joined Sweden (3-0) in completing the three Group B nations to clinch a quarterfinal berth.
—John Wawrow, Twin Cities, 10 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinch
Verb
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Monitoring high-level athletes for drug misuse is nothing new, but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) surprised many people recently by deciding to track the use of GLP-1 drugs, such as the diabetes and obesity treatments Ozempic (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide).—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.—
Staff Reports,
The Providence Journal,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Mary asked if Lucci realized during those 19 nominations that there was a giant hug around her.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
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Even Jen Affleck, who was apparently feuding with her during their time on DWTS, came out for her on the big day, went to the after-party and joined in on a big group hug.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While OpenAI hasn’t yet settled on a way to implement ads for its blockbuster chatbot, an early screenshot the company showed off during its announcement late last year indicates that free-tier users will likely be painfully aware that the company is trying to sell them something.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
5 Feb. 2026
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Encased in inflatable shock absorbers, the sphere bounced across the lunar surface like a beach ball, eventually settling and unfolding four petal-like panels to stabilize itself.—
Ilya Ferapontov,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There isn’t even much romance, save one passionate embrace and kiss as Cathy is nearing her end.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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Whether Silicon Valley’s early embrace becomes an asset or a liability may depend on how voters interpret the flood of tech money — as proof of confidence in a pragmatic mayor or as a sign that the industry is trying to shape the state’s political future.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The committee uses 12 criteria to determine who belongs in the field and where teams should be seeded.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
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At the door, formidable bouncers determine your fate.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Rebuilding, One Colony at a Time From that precarious low point of 35 animals in 1982, conservationists have worked to gradually expand the species’ foothold.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
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Only recently have those fleeing the AKP government itself begun to establish a foothold in the diaspora.—
Michael Paarlberg,
The Conversation,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Poll results from Japanese outlet NHK showed that the risk paid off, with the LDP winning 316 seats out of the 465 up for grabs in the House, well above the 233 needed for a simply majority.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Feb. 2026
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Look for containers to house baking supplies, grab-and-go snacks, breakfast items, seasoning mixes, and hard-to-organize spice packets.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This was a public-health revolution, on equal footing with any of the great agricultural, industrial, or information revolutions that have punctuated the past few centuries.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
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Whenever these urgent hedge-fund risk-reduction events occurs, brokerage houses try to handicap how much more repositioning might be necessary to bring their posture back toward a neutral footing, like different hurricane models trying to forecast a storm’s path.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinch. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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