as in clenched
to have or keep in one's hands
he clutched the eggs carefully so he wouldn't drop them
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Recent Examples of clutched
One woman clutched her young, smiling child with a look of pure horror on her face.
—
Megan Armstrong, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Others brought flowers, clutched to their chests.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
Along Ferrari Ranch Road in Lincoln, Karl and Jan Hess clutched to protest signs.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Last year, the Checkers almost clutched the Calder Cup trophy for the second time in franchise history under the American Hockey League banner.
—Charlotte Observer, 16 Mar. 2026
Aunt Fely clutched her chest when my mother told her of Nora’s death.
—Han Ong, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
When Contributing Editor Sheri Castle revealed that the secret to crystal clear sweet tea was a teaspoon of baking soda, some Southern Living readers clutched their pearls in disbelief.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
An elderly, white-bearded man clutched a walking staff, like an urban Gandalf, disseminating wise vibes.
—Brian Barth, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
Benedict is still all in with love, convincingly enough that Sophie sneaks back to her room, glowing and grinning, with the drawing of Our Cottage clutched in her hands.
—Christina Grace Tucker, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Megan Armstrong, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Others brought flowers, clutched to their chests.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
Along Ferrari Ranch Road in Lincoln, Karl and Jan Hess clutched to protest signs.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Last year, the Checkers almost clutched the Calder Cup trophy for the second time in franchise history under the American Hockey League banner.
—Charlotte Observer, 16 Mar. 2026
Aunt Fely clutched her chest when my mother told her of Nora’s death.
—Han Ong, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
When Contributing Editor Sheri Castle revealed that the secret to crystal clear sweet tea was a teaspoon of baking soda, some Southern Living readers clutched their pearls in disbelief.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
An elderly, white-bearded man clutched a walking staff, like an urban Gandalf, disseminating wise vibes.
—Brian Barth, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
Benedict is still all in with love, convincingly enough that Sophie sneaks back to her room, glowing and grinning, with the drawing of Our Cottage clutched in her hands.
—Christina Grace Tucker, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clutched
Verb
-
Among many Niger Deltans, there’s a mixture of ignorance, nonchalance, and clenched resignation around the industry’s environmental dangers, which take a back seat as folks get on with the business of everyday survival.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
-
After Barrett finished the sequence with a dunk on the other end, Barnes turned back to his bench, clenched his fists and screamed.—
Eric Koreen,
New York Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This product comes with a lifetime warranty and the handle is easily gripped.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
That's paltry for the region this time of year, echoing the broader trend of a snow drought that has gripped the rest of Arizona and much of the Western United States.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Shamet was fouled on the play and missed the and-one free throw, but second-year backup big man Ariel Hukporti grabbed the offensive rebound to create a second shot opportunity.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Walmart grabbed 23% of the market share last year, the same as in 2024.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clutched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clutched. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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