1
as in reduced
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in gaunt
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
2
as in stole
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
pinched the earrings while the boutique owner was distracted by another customer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in arrested
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law
pinched the purse snatcher just two blocks from where he had robbed the old lady
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in saved
to avoid unnecessary waste or expense
if we pinch hard for the upcoming year, we can probably afford the vacation at that fancy resort
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 pinched
Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
Lately, the day-to-night, slip-on shoe has been showing up with ruching — as in, the upper is pinched along the edge to create an interesting textural effect.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 13 May 2026
Households, meanwhile, are being pinched by higher fuel prices, airfare and other expenses.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 12 May 2026
Saranrom Thai is as pinched as a back alley, a simple geometry of concrete, wood and brick, and balances frank heat and funk with cooling freshness.
—Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
These fall-blooming asters have generally been pinched and forced several times throughout the growing season.
—Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 9 May 2026
Schramma pinched off some centimeter-long leaves.
—Quanta Magazine, 4 May 2026
High jet fuel costs have pinched all US airlines, sending their costs surging.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
During that time, the world’s oil supply will remain pinched.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
The utility and the state’s grid manager say transmission in this part of the state gets pinched during high demand.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
Lately, the day-to-night, slip-on shoe has been showing up with ruching — as in, the upper is pinched along the edge to create an interesting textural effect.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 13 May 2026
Households, meanwhile, are being pinched by higher fuel prices, airfare and other expenses.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 12 May 2026
Saranrom Thai is as pinched as a back alley, a simple geometry of concrete, wood and brick, and balances frank heat and funk with cooling freshness.
—Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
These fall-blooming asters have generally been pinched and forced several times throughout the growing season.
—Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 9 May 2026
Schramma pinched off some centimeter-long leaves.
—Quanta Magazine, 4 May 2026
High jet fuel costs have pinched all US airlines, sending their costs surging.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
During that time, the world’s oil supply will remain pinched.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinched
Adjective
-
Seven of the rooms are designed to accommodate guests with reduced mobility or any kind of disability.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
-
However, because this is an analysis of observational studies, the research cannot definitively conclude a cause-and-effect relationship between soy and legume consumption and reduced hypertension risk.—
Stephanie Anderson Witmer,
Health,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
When supermodels ruled the runway, low-rise pants hugged our hips, everyone smoked cigarettes, grunge was a music genre and an aesthetic, and looking scrawny and gaunt was considered attractive.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In late-stage chronic wasting disease, deer often appear emaciated and gaunt, Labonte said.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But a pivotal Supreme Court case nipped it in the bud.—
Tim Balk Danny Hakim Michelle Litvin Luke Broadwater,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
-
To prove out the findings in real biology, Schramma stuck his arm back into the fish tank, nipped more leaves, and snapped microscope images of the cells within to measure Elodea’s actual packing fractions.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Cal Raleigh stole 14 as a big-bodied catcher.—
Chad Jennings,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
Duran led off with a walk and stole his 10th base of the season to put himself in easy scoring position for Contreras’ one-out RBI single.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Police said Suarez was arrested and charged with two counts of manslaughter, three counts of vehicular manslaughter, two counts of vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
-
Jessica Moncallo, 30, was arrested and booked into the Dawson County Jail on May 11 in connection with a single-vehicle crash that claimed the life of a 16-year-old driver on April 15 on County Road 18, the Texas Department of Public Safety said in a press release on Tuesday, May 12.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
On Tuesday, Wahl said the three victims' actions likely saved 140 children, according to Al Jazeera.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
-
Tom Clancy’s literary all-American action hero Jack Ryan saved the world in quite a few movies − played by a bunch of A-listers – before coming to TV.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Rocking back and forth nervously during a television appearance, a haggard-looking Diaz-Canel acknowledged the same talks, which his government had denied were taking place just days before.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Wrexham, meanwhile, was near the bottom, struggling in England’s lowest division under a haggard fan-ownership group keeping it on life support.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
6 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
Cite this Entry
“Pinched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinched. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
