as in substitutes
a person or thing that takes the place of another
the business owners brought in a pinch hitter until a permanent manager could be hired
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pinch hitters
The club has five starting-caliber outfielders and can only play four at a time, and since four of those outfielders also bat left-handed, the Red Sox can’t even set up a platoon or effectively deploy pinch hitters late in game.
—
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
Agnifilo, Kaplan and Geragos are joining Weinstein’s team as pinch hitters ahead of his next appearance in Manhattan Supreme Court on March 4, with a trial date still to be set for the outstanding third-degree rape charge concerning an alleged assault on aspiring actor Jessica Mann in 2013.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
The Jays used four pinch hitters and defensive substitutions.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
There’s also pressure on the bench because teammates, like pinch hitters, never know when they may be subbed in.
—Candace Oehler, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
Agnifilo, Kaplan and Geragos are joining Weinstein’s team as pinch hitters ahead of his next appearance in Manhattan Supreme Court on March 4, with a trial date still to be set for the outstanding third-degree rape charge concerning an alleged assault on aspiring actor Jessica Mann in 2013.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
The Jays used four pinch hitters and defensive substitutions.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
There’s also pressure on the bench because teammates, like pinch hitters, never know when they may be subbed in.
—Candace Oehler, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinch hitters
Noun
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Their semi-final win over Millwall showed resilience and adaptability, particularly with the impact of substitutes.—
Dean Jones,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
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Read on to find out the best white pepper substitutes for your recipes.—
Katlyn Moncada,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 May 2026
Noun
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But 40 years and six turf replacements later, the blue field remains one of Bleymaier’s most impactful and lasting legacies.—
Shaun Goodwin
May 25,
Idaho Statesman,
25 May 2026
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Silicone food bags, baking mats, spatulas, baby pacifiers and collapsible water bottles are now marketed as eco-friendlier replacements for disposable plastics and aging nonstick cookware.—
Ryan Brennan
May 22,
Charlotte Observer,
22 May 2026
Noun
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The transfer portal leads to a scholarship Flowers had a QB in for spring practice, Central Connecticut State transfer Josh Jackson, and two backups returning from last season.—
Langston Wertz Jr,
Charlotte Observer,
22 May 2026
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The question is over his backups.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pinch hitters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinch%20hitters. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
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