to clench
- verb
- /klɛntʃ/
- She had to clench her fists to stop herself from shouting in frustration.
- a clenched fist
- clenched teeth
- clenched hands
Some actors are physical, make them clench their fist, make them ball up.
- Some actors are physical, make them clench their fist, make them ball up.
- So it to me, yeah, now a guy has a fist that he can clench and punch you in the face.
- But that's the number one thing, clench your fist properly and defend your chin.
- Simon didn't even notice when she went limp, her dead weight dragging him to the floor, his hands gripping her shoulder, clenching and unclenching as he drank.
- Other later Christian thinkers will say, yeah, God doesn't feel emotions like like we do where, you know, our our hands clench and things like that.
- Wow, that price really made me clench my grapefruit for the grapefruit.
- So I just had to, like, clench cheek.
- The second I see someone with a microphone outside, my holes clench up.
Examples
-
His face was red with rage, and his shaking hands were clenched into fists.
Fiction book (1991) -
Some actors are physical, make them clench their fist, make them ball up.
-
You guys clench, release and clench and release and hold.
-
I try not to clench up.
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Now bring your arms out to AT, clench your fist tight.
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Do you normally speak through clenched teeth?
-
- Just relax and stop clenching.
-
Have you ever noticed how babies, their little fists are clenched like that?
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When they left, May Anna stood there clenching her fists, her face white.
Fiction book (1990) -
Benjamin just stood there, his eyes hard, his jaw working as he clenched and unclenched his teeth.
Fiction book (1990)
Synonyms
To make something hold firmly, like a bolt or belt
To press something firmly with your hand or fingers
To hold something tightly with the hands or because of strong feeling
To hold something or someone tightly, often to keep them safe
Grab something firmly with your hands to stay safe
To hold a person or thing tightly with your hands
To press your teeth together when you feel angry or in pain
To hold someone tightly, for example in a fight or a hug
To grind your teeth together because you feel angry or frustrated
Keep a person or thing tightly against your body
To pull something like a rope until it becomes tight or to become tight
Antonyms
How Tight
Surface Forms
Etymology
Clench comes from an old English idea of 'seizing' or 'holding tight', like when you clench your fist or jaw. So, to clench means to close or squeeze something very tightly.