as in deciding
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 clinching
After beating Purdue last week, clinching the program’s first Final Four berth in 25 years, Lloyd took control of an on-court interview.
—
Doug Haller, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
The picture is Triet’s first feature since her 2023 Cannes Palme d’Or-winning psychological thriller Anatomy of a Fall, which went on to enjoy a major awards-season run, garnering its star Sandra Hüller a Best Actress Academy Award nomination and clinching an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2026
Los Angeles is on the verge of clinching a playoff spot.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
In addition to clinching homecourt advantage, the win also made the Spurs the first team since the 2007-2008 Boston Celtics to notch 55 victories the year after having less than 35 wins the season before.
—Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Mar. 2026
Before their very eyes, Lamarck transformed the person into an amateur botanist, clinching the metamorphosis with a successful plant identification.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
The Sabres still earned a point to tie Carolina atop the Eastern Conference and move within 10 points of clinching their first playoff berth in 15 years.
—ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026
The victory came on the heels of the team clinching a playoff spot with an 8-6 road win against the San Diego Sockers on March 15.
—Nathan Dunn, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026
Playing for the first time since clinching a Western Conference playoff spot, the Stars lost to an East also-ran and fell seven points behind NHL-leading Colorado, their Central Division rival.
—CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Doug Haller, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
The picture is Triet’s first feature since her 2023 Cannes Palme d’Or-winning psychological thriller Anatomy of a Fall, which went on to enjoy a major awards-season run, garnering its star Sandra Hüller a Best Actress Academy Award nomination and clinching an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2026
Los Angeles is on the verge of clinching a playoff spot.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
In addition to clinching homecourt advantage, the win also made the Spurs the first team since the 2007-2008 Boston Celtics to notch 55 victories the year after having less than 35 wins the season before.
—Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Mar. 2026
Before their very eyes, Lamarck transformed the person into an amateur botanist, clinching the metamorphosis with a successful plant identification.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
The Sabres still earned a point to tie Carolina atop the Eastern Conference and move within 10 points of clinching their first playoff berth in 15 years.
—ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026
The victory came on the heels of the team clinching a playoff spot with an 8-6 road win against the San Diego Sockers on March 15.
—Nathan Dunn, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026
Playing for the first time since clinching a Western Conference playoff spot, the Stars lost to an East also-ran and fell seven points behind NHL-leading Colorado, their Central Division rival.
—CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinching
Verb
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Global firms consider enforcement regimes when deciding where to locate research, production, and scaling operations.—
Laura Peter,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
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Even experienced players can misread a pitch by inches, which makes deciding whether to challenge even more difficult.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Officers responding to the initial call made no arrests after determining that no crime was committed, Mejia said.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
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Physical fitness, the body's ability to function properly, and the absence of disease are important factors in determining health, as is one's emotional, mental, and social state.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But nobody seemed bothered Saturday night by the new stadium’s location, or by the work left to be done finishing it, or by the long delay realizing this night, or even by settling for a draw.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
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Joan asked, settling in beside them with a glass of white wine.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clinching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinching. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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