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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clinching
One of her upcoming styles could even be spotted at a New York Knicks finals games prior to the team clinching their historic 2026 NBA championship win.
—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
30 June 2026
Josh Hader, Hunter Brown, Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes teamed to secure Sunday’s series-clinching 7-5 win, but that is their expectation.
—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
29 June 2026
Simply select your favorite qualifying team to see their most realistic path to clinching the trophy.
—
Nbc News,
NBC news,
28 June 2026
And for good measure, Kevin Warsh’s first press briefing as Fed chairman last week stunned Wall Street with his hawkishness, clinching the case for tightening.
—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
27 June 2026
The winner of this game was assured second place behind the United States in the group with Australia also clinching that spot with a draw thanks to a better goal differential than Paraguay.
—
ABC News,
26 June 2026
The Hounds were in full control throughout the game with a dominant 35-17 win, not only clinching the championship, but completing the first undefeated season in league history.
—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
But the clutch hit eluded the Yankees throughout Sunday’s 4-1 defeat in the Bronx, continuing a weekend-long trend while clinching a series loss to Cincinnati.
—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
21 June 2026
Thursday’s 1-0 victory over South Korea at Guadalajara Stadium made the World Cup co-host the first in the tournament to advance while also clinching the top spot in Group A with one group play game remaining.
—
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
30 June 2026
Josh Hader, Hunter Brown, Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes teamed to secure Sunday’s series-clinching 7-5 win, but that is their expectation.
—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
29 June 2026
Simply select your favorite qualifying team to see their most realistic path to clinching the trophy.
—
Nbc News,
NBC news,
28 June 2026
And for good measure, Kevin Warsh’s first press briefing as Fed chairman last week stunned Wall Street with his hawkishness, clinching the case for tightening.
—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
27 June 2026
The winner of this game was assured second place behind the United States in the group with Australia also clinching that spot with a draw thanks to a better goal differential than Paraguay.
—
ABC News,
26 June 2026
The Hounds were in full control throughout the game with a dominant 35-17 win, not only clinching the championship, but completing the first undefeated season in league history.
—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
But the clutch hit eluded the Yankees throughout Sunday’s 4-1 defeat in the Bronx, continuing a weekend-long trend while clinching a series loss to Cincinnati.
—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
21 June 2026
Thursday’s 1-0 victory over South Korea at Guadalajara Stadium made the World Cup co-host the first in the tournament to advance while also clinching the top spot in Group A with one group play game remaining.
—
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinching
Verb
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Out of loyalty to her father, Rhaenyra refuses, eventually deciding to send him north to the Wall.
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At the moment, Congress is having a terrible time deciding how to levy taxes, go to war, protect Social Security, confirm judges and live within its means.
Verb
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Work-permit levels for TPS were set in 1990 and the complex method for determining whether someone qualifies for asylum was codified in 1996.
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Investigators are still determining what led up to the altercation, how the victim was murdered, and the suspect's motive.
Verb
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So the new team owners took their inspiration from intimate venues like Duke University’s Cameron Indoor Stadium, settling on a capacity of 11,500 with the goal of creating a fan experience that was loud, crowded and coveted.
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While many people move abroad to expand their careers and gain international work experience, settling into a new country also means navigating unfamiliar customs, language, and routines.
Cite this Entry
“Clinching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinching. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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