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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pinches
Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025
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
Verb
Dad pinches my cheek between his first two fingers with a soppy look in his eyes.
—Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025
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
-
Police arrested a Long Beach man allegedly tied to a string of bronze plaque thefts in several Orange County cities.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The initial deployment was in response to a spike in auto thefts in the city, which peaked at 1,205 in 2022 (amid an overall surge in Colorado).—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Such arrests have been happening for weeks following the government crackdown last month that crushed the protests calling for the end of the country's theocratic rule.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
In the end, officials said no arrests were made.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Each provides amino acids that the other lacks, so eating them together gives you all the essential amino acids.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Economic theory would suggest that the best place to make a major investment such as a STAR bond would be in a place that has low, or lacks, economic activity.—
Sofi Zeman
January 21,
Kansas City Star,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Malinin holds just more than a five-point lead over his biggest rival, Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama, with scores from both the short program and free skate added together to determine a winner.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
-
According to chief customer officer Brie Carere, FedEx currently holds a 12 percent share in the $22 billion premium air freight market.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Shop these standout steals and more below.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Though the 24-year-old star has only recently been thrust into the mainstream spotlight, Williams has played a wide variety of roles, from a depressed young man seeking approval from a lost friend to a humanoid chatbot who steals a woman from her husband.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Now, her family must reckon with the consequences as Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) seizes an opportunity to regain her position.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Iran seizes 2 ships on smuggling claims DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Iran seized two foreign oil tankers in the Persian Gulf on Thursday, state television reported, claiming the vessels had been smuggling fuel.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This enables, for example, ultra-fast charging while requiring only thinner cables, which saves weight and costs.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Five minutes of sorting your meds into an efficient pill organizer saves space for far more important things (like an extra pair of shoes).—
Carin Ryan,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Grabs, Part 2 Freeskiing has its own glossary of these grabs, including Japan (behind and across to grab opposite ski) and seat belt (imagine putting a seatbelt on, but by bringing the buckle up to grab the latch).—
Joseph Wilson,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Republicans hold only a four-vote majority in the House, with political analysts projecting about 20 swing seats up for grabs.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pinches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinches. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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