clinch

[ klinch ]

/ klɪntʃ /

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See synonyms for: clinch / clinched on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to settle (a matter) decisively: After they clinched the deal they went out to celebrate.

to secure (a nail, screw, etc.) in position by beating down the protruding point: He drove the nails through the board and clinched the points flat with a hammer.

to fasten (objects) together by nails, screws, etc., secured in this manner.

Nautical. to fasten by a clinch.

verb (used without object)

Boxing. to engage in a clinch: The boxers clinched and were separated by the referee.

Slang. to embrace, especially passionately.

(of a clinched nail, screw, etc.) to hold fast; be secure.

noun

the act of clinching.

Boxing. an act or instance of one or both boxers holding the other about the arms or body in order to prevent or hinder the opponent's punches.

Slang. a passionate embrace.

a clinched nail or fastening.

the bent part of a clinched nail, screw, etc.

a knot or bend in which a bight or eye is made by making a loop or turn in the rope and seizing the end to the standing part.

Archaic. a pun.

OTHER WORDS FOR clinch

1 cinch, secure, close, conclude, confirm.

See synonyms for clinch on Thesaurus.com

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Also clench (for defs. 1-4, 9, 11, 12).

Origin of clinch

First recorded in 1560–70; later variant of Middle English clench

OTHER WORDS FROM clinch

clinch·ing·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH clinch

clench, clinch

Words nearby clinch

climb on the bandwagon, climb the walls, clime, clin., clinandrium, clinch, clincher, clincher-built, clincher tire, clindamycin, cline

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use clinch in a sentence

Notably, a 6-turn clinch knot and a 5-turn improved clinch also came in at 96%, but only if they were tied with extreme care.
The strongest fishing knots you can tie|By John Merwin/Field & Stream|March 2, 2021|Popular-Science
That touched me, the clinch that suggested he wanted to share a portion of his life with his oldest friend.
Fiction: Quiet earth philosophy|Katie McLean|October 21, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Only the finest vintages and producers will clinch the deal.
Beer Countries vs. Wine Countries|Clive Irving|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The video was directed by Danny Clinch and features footage of Hurricane Sandy, atomic explosions, and rising water levels.
Robin Thicke, Jay Z & More Best Music Videos of the Week (VIDEO)|Victoria Kezra|August 31, 2013|DAILY BEAST

The photos were shot by Danny Clinch in the Salisbury House museum in Des Moines, Iowa.
Lululemon Targets Men; Willie Nelson Fronts John Varvatos Campaign|The Fashion Beast Team|July 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Rabin government went on to clinch a first-ever peace deal with the Palestinians.
Israel’s Great Haredi Hope|Dan Ephron|December 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The twit, Guy Clinch, is the unlucky father of Marmaduke, an 18-month-old prodigy of domestic mayhem.
Remedial Reader: The Essential Martin Amis|Ronald K. Fried|August 24, 2012|DAILY BEAST
A gentle breath from heaven makes the basket decline a little and the ropes creak against the hardwood clinch blocks.
The Real Latin Quarter|F. Berkeley Smith
Our natural impulse now is to slightly clinch our teeth when we shake our heads to mean “no.”
The Wonder Book of Knowledge|Various
Could the people of the Clinch and Holston have felt the same confidence, they would have spared themselves much nagging.
A Virginia Scout|Hugh Pendexter
And so step by step the devil thrust him into desperation, and strove thereby to clinch the hopelessness of his estate.
Julian Home|Dean Frederic W. Farrar
There would be small chance of another band raiding down the Clinch for some time at least.
A Virginia Scout|Hugh Pendexter

British Dictionary definitions for clinch

clinch

/ (klɪntʃ) /

verb

(tr) to secure (a driven nail) by bending the protruding point over

(tr) to hold together in such a mannerto clinch the corners of the frame

(tr) to settle (something, such as an argument, bargain, etc) in a definite way

(tr) nautical to fasten by means of a clinch

(intr) to engage in a clinch, as in boxing or wrestling

noun

the act of clinching

a nail with its point bent over
the part of such a nail, etc, that has been bent over

boxing wrestling an act or an instance in which one or both competitors hold on to the other to avoid punches, regain wind, etc

slang a lovers' embrace

nautical a loop or eye formed in a line by seizing the end to the standing part.

Also (for senses 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 10): clench

Word Origin for clinch

C16: variant of clench

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

clinch

OTHER WORDS FOR clinch

Origin of clinch

OTHER WORDS FROM clinch

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH clinch

Words nearby clinch

Words related to clinch

How to use clinch in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for clinch

Word Origin for clinch