clincher
Americannoun
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a person or thing that clinches.
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a statement, argument, fact, situation, or the like, that is decisive or conclusive.
The heat was the clincher that made us decide to leave the city.
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a nail, screw, etc., for clinching.
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Automotive. a clincher tire.
noun
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informal something decisive, such as a fact, score, etc
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a person or thing that clinches
Etymology
Origin of clincher
1485–95; variant of Middle English clencher ( clench + -er 1 )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In Wednesday’s clincher, he hit third in Milwaukee’s lineup.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
"That was the real clincher for this system," Householder says.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026
As for that tiny point guard: With 45 points in the championship clincher, Brunson didn’t just win Finals MVP.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
"The idea that who owns the seabed was the deal clincher in this election is baffling. People were fed up with us," they said, suggesting Drakeford did not want to acknowledge that.
From BBC ● May 20, 2026
That was the clincher right there, 99 percent of what you needed to know.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
