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
Similarly, Adam Lambert has become a household name after clinching second place on season 8 in 2009.
—
Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Michela Cava of the Ottawa Charge celebrates her game-winning double overtime and series clinching goal against Aerin Frankel of the Boston Fleet on May 10, 2026, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.
—CBS News, 10 May 2026
The nail-biter was sealed with two pairs of free throws by Washington’s Shakira Austin, clinching the win with 10 seconds to go.
—Sarah Jean Maher, New York Times, 9 May 2026
But Orlando City scored the final four goals of the match to stun Inter Miami, clinching a miraculous 4-3 comeback victory on Saturday night at Nu Stadium.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026
Instead, the Pistons forced Game 7 and won on its home court, clinching its first series victory since 2008, a second-round win over Orlando.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026
Premier League Preview Manchester United hosts Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday in a huge rivalry game with both teams close to clinching Champions League qualification.
—Steve Kornacki, NBC news, 1 May 2026
One win away from clinching a spot in the next round, the Lakers have so far weathered the storm created when Reaves and leading scorer Luka Doncic both suffered injuries in the same game on April 2.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, Bayern is looking for a treble after already clinching the Bundesliga (German league) and making the German Cup final.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Michela Cava of the Ottawa Charge celebrates her game-winning double overtime and series clinching goal against Aerin Frankel of the Boston Fleet on May 10, 2026, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.
—CBS News, 10 May 2026
The nail-biter was sealed with two pairs of free throws by Washington’s Shakira Austin, clinching the win with 10 seconds to go.
—Sarah Jean Maher, New York Times, 9 May 2026
But Orlando City scored the final four goals of the match to stun Inter Miami, clinching a miraculous 4-3 comeback victory on Saturday night at Nu Stadium.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026
Instead, the Pistons forced Game 7 and won on its home court, clinching its first series victory since 2008, a second-round win over Orlando.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026
Premier League Preview Manchester United hosts Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday in a huge rivalry game with both teams close to clinching Champions League qualification.
—Steve Kornacki, NBC news, 1 May 2026
One win away from clinching a spot in the next round, the Lakers have so far weathered the storm created when Reaves and leading scorer Luka Doncic both suffered injuries in the same game on April 2.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, Bayern is looking for a treble after already clinching the Bundesliga (German league) and making the German Cup final.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinching
Verb
-
Because teams are deciding whether to devote millions of dollars and precious roster spots to occasionally unreliable males in their early twenties, much of a scout’s work is akin to investigative reporting.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
The former Huskies’ star went off for a game-high 32 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 139-109, in the deciding Game 6 Friday night to clinch a spot in the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
16 May 2026
Verb
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By finding your allies, defining the goals and determining working integration states, any IT department can successfully migrate its IT and improve its digital sovereignty.—
Kevin Korte,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Investment bankers and takeover artists took a leading role in determining which companies would be sold, merged, or broken apart.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Rent one from Sea Panarea to discover hidden coves, sea caves, and the nearby islets of Basiluzzo and Lisca before settling in for sunset Negronis at the see-and-be-seen Bar del Porto.—
Nicky Swallow,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
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Others are settling for unpaid roles.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clinching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinching. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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