1
2
as in arrests
the act of taking into one's control by authority of law
an innocent person caught up in a city-wide pinch of drug dealers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lacks
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
this labor pinch means that there'll be long lines at the checkouts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in steals
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 seizes
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 saves
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 pinches
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2025
For Spraggins’ colleague, Josie Wheeler — who still sometimes pinches herself at going from bartending to meetings with nuclear power plant operators — Accenture is a lifetime commitment.
—Andy Tonsing, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
There’s the moment Stanton’s Håkon Werle pinches the back of his son’s neck, like a cruel master bringing his dog to heel.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2025
For Spraggins’ colleague, Josie Wheeler — who still sometimes pinches herself at going from bartending to meetings with nuclear power plant operators — Accenture is a lifetime commitment.
—Andy Tonsing, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinches
Noun
-
Overall last year, nighttime thefts of copper wiring along RTD disrupted train service 21 times between April and October, with thieves escaping with metal worth about $110,000.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Charlotte had 105 homicides in 2024 compared to 88 in 2023, the Associated Press reported, and the rate of vehicle thefts per 100,000 people more than doubled there from 2020 through 2024.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The co-founder of the Alliance for Respect and Education for Immigrants, or AIRE, asserted the community should be aware the National Guard is not actively participating in the arrests.—
Juan Cordoba,
Arkansas Online,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Police still have not confirmed a motive for the shooting and have not made any arrests.—
Bay Area News Group,
Mercury News,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This absence — of God, of love, of plain community spirit — is a metaphor for the whole parish, where everyone is defined by their own lacks and deficiencies, the weaknesses that cause Wicks to despise them and vow to bring down them all.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
6 Sep. 2025
-
But Davies’s film has a patience and lightness of touch that Scorsese’s lacks, as well as a note-perfect lead in Gillian Anderson.—
Elle Carroll,
Vulture,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
If tradition holds, the DGA will have initial conversations with the Alliance for Motion Picture and Television Producers sometime by early next year.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
21 Sep. 2025
-
No clothing item is worth dealing with discomfort, and that holds especially true for undergarments.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But sometimes stress over the sheer volume of what’s on our plates steals the most precious moments.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
16 Sep. 2025
-
That O’Connor steals the movie out from under Craig’s delightful bluster is accomplishment enough.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
When Day succumbs to his wounds, Dusk seizes the vacuum, claiming Hari Seldon’s psychohistory crystal.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
-
By the time Megan seizes control of the reins at the film’s close, the abrupt denouement feels jarringly disconnected rather than organic to the storytelling.—
Michael Rechtshaffen,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Being busy suited Onana, who was fully engaged and concentrated, made some smart reaction saves and kept his distribution on the right side of zany.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
-
How Lack Of Time Hurts Workplace Environment Productivity The irony is that carving out even a little time for inquiry almost always saves time later.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
With Amazon's status as a Hollywood heavyweight up for grabs there is a lot on the line.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Normally, redistricting happens once a decade after the census, but mid-decade redraws are increasingly common power grabs.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pinches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinches. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share