as in decided
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 clinched
After back-to-back blowout wins, Illinois closed the month with two straight L’s — at UCLA and then at home to Michigan, which clinched the Big Ten regular-season title with the easy win.
—
Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
The Wild’s win clinched a playoff spot for the Montreal Canadiens in the East.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026
Detroit's loss clinched a berth for the Buffalo Sabres, who ended the NHL's longest postseason drought at 14 seasons.
—CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
And what’s to keep the few of them who have clinched playoff spots from sitting their best players twice instead of once?
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
The Red Wings’ lifeless loss to the Rangers also clinched playoff spots for the Lightning and Buffalo Sabres, who snapped a 14-year post-season drought.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
The Lightning also clinched Saturday, before beating the Bruins, for their ninth consecutive appearance and 12th in 13 years.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
The Heat clinched at least a play-in berth on Saturday night, with their postseason ticket punched with a Milwaukee Bucks loss.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2026
Yep, Will Smith, whose two-run homer in the seventh inning clinched it.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
The Wild’s win clinched a playoff spot for the Montreal Canadiens in the East.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026
Detroit's loss clinched a berth for the Buffalo Sabres, who ended the NHL's longest postseason drought at 14 seasons.
—CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
And what’s to keep the few of them who have clinched playoff spots from sitting their best players twice instead of once?
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
The Red Wings’ lifeless loss to the Rangers also clinched playoff spots for the Lightning and Buffalo Sabres, who snapped a 14-year post-season drought.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
The Lightning also clinched Saturday, before beating the Bruins, for their ninth consecutive appearance and 12th in 13 years.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
The Heat clinched at least a play-in berth on Saturday night, with their postseason ticket punched with a Milwaukee Bucks loss.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2026
Yep, Will Smith, whose two-run homer in the seventh inning clinched it.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinched
Verb
-
Carolina does have some remaining needs, and with the selection process just around the corner, The Charlotte Observer decided to go back to the drawing board.—
Mike Kaye
April 6,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Last year, several Colorado school districts with policies that protect girls’ sports decided to pre-emptively sue the Colorado Civil Rights Division over their policies’ conflict with Colorado law.—
Lisa Frizell,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the oil settled, centuries of growth were undone.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
By morning, nearly six inches of fresh Colorado powder had settled over the car, frosting its sharp lines and futuristic shape like confectioner’s sugar on a pastry.—
Sponsored Content,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Massachusetts Crime Lab determined that the residue contained antifreeze.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The medical examiner determined Moore’s cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death to be homicide.—
Kathryn Kovalenko,
Twin Cities,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clinched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinched. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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