CLINCHING Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

clinching

verb

present participle of clinch

as in deciding

to make final, definite, or beyond dispute the rain clinched the matter: we would have the party indoors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 clinching Democratic powerhouse Debbie Wasserman Schultz will return to Congress for her 12th term after clinching the Democratic primary for her new, blue-leaning district. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026 Goins stayed hot with Wei in Mixed-1, leaving it to Mixed-2, where Chicago nearly pushed it to a DB and made PBR save six match points before clinching. — Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Ketel Marte hit a two-run homer off Justin Wrobleski (11-4) in the first inning and Kevin Ginkel worked a perfect ninth for his first save this year, clinching Arizona's 7-6 win in the season series. — CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026 Even with Thursday’s 5-4 series-clinching victory, the Red Sox are just 21-37 when opponents score first. — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 31 July 2026 Eduardo Rodríguez pitched eight shutout innings, Gabriel Moreno hit a two-run homer and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on Wednesday, clinching the three-game series. — ABC News, 29 July 2026 Its lineup is surprisingly fashion-forward, frequently clinching the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal of Acceptance while speaking to today’s top trends. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 20 July 2026 However, in a heartbreaker for the Three Lions and their fans, Argentina scored twice in the final moments and extra time, clinching a return to the final to face Spain on July 19. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026 The 24-year-old Italian’s celebration after clinching victory with a forehand winner down the line told a slightly different story. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 12 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinching

Verb

And deciding to leave it felt different from her family’s rushed departure from Haiti.

— Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
The shouting match ultimately ended with Anthony deciding not to testify, a decision his attorneys said hampered his ability to effectively claim self-defense in the killing.

— Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of deciding

Verb

Now the challenge is not only producing enough copper but determining where and how that copper is sold.

— Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
This means taxpayers won’t be responsible for determining eligibility or calculating their own deduction as many were for their 2025 return.

— Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of determining

Browse Nearby Words

clinches

clinching

cling

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Clinching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinching. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of clinching

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on clinching

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

tilde

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes