clutch 1 of 3

clutch

2 of 3

noun (2)

clutch

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word clutch different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of clutch are grab, grasp, seize, snatch, and take. While all these words mean "to get hold of by or as if by catching up with the hand," clutch suggests avidity or anxiety in seizing or grasping and may imply less success in holding.

clutching her purse

How do grab and snatch relate to one another, in the sense of clutch?

Grab implies more roughness or rudeness than snatch.

grabbed roughly by the arm

When can grasp be used instead of clutch?

The words grasp and clutch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, grasp stresses a laying hold so as to have firmly in possession.

grasp the handle and pull

In what contexts can seize take the place of clutch?

While in some cases nearly identical to clutch, seize implies a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of something tangible or an apprehending of something fleeting or elusive when intangible.

seized the suspect

How are the words snatch and seize related as synonyms of clutch?

Snatch suggests more suddenness or quickness but less force than seize.

snatched a doughnut and ran

Where would take be a reasonable alternative to clutch?

The words take and clutch can be used in similar contexts, but take is a general term applicable to any manner of getting something into one's possession or control.

take some salad from the bowl

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of clutch
Noun
Ruffles and pleats echoed the shapes of roses in napa leather and velvet on clutches and shoulder bags. Stephen Garner, WWD, 3 Mar. 2025 Instead of the sound and fury of a piston-engine vehicle shooting power through a mechanical system of joints and shafts and secondary clutches, one only experiences the smooth, rushing fury, accompanied by a synthesized whispering. Mark Ewing, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
But the Suns were able to close it out thanks to clutch free throws from Durant and a pull-up 3 from Booker. Shakeia Taylor, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025 Spring was just beginning to bloom in the city and people were spilling out of bars, clutching flutes of crisp, sparkling Pignoletto. Marcia Desanctis, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for clutch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clutch
Verb
  • Adrien Brody’s László Tóth is a Holocaust survivor battling for postwar equilibrium with a determination and wit that keeps us gripped.
    Raven Smith, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2025
  • The song, released last Friday (Feb. 21) via Reach Records, showcases raw storytelling over gripping horns and acoustic guitar interplay.
    Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Moments after an emphatic two-handed jam in the closing seconds that sealed Sherman Oaks Notre Dame’s 68-61 upset of Harvard-Westlake on Friday night in Studio City, Tyran Stokes clenched both fists, turned toward his teammates and screamed at the top of his lungs.
    Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2025
  • Manchester City striker Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw clenched her right fist and raised her arm into the air.
    Caoimhe O'Neill, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • With Republicans holding slim majorities in the House and Senate, Trump framed the speech as an opportunity to rally his party behind his policies, even as tensions simmered within GOP ranks over recent moves on trade and foreign aid.
    Nik Popli, TIME, 5 Mar. 2025
  • To arrive at the list, the researchers consulted with over two dozen AI experts, surveyed the AAAI community, and held various workshops.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clutch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clutch. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on clutch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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