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Glite Dictionary
✅ To secure finally 🤼 To hold tightly 🤗 A close hold 🔩 To fasten firmly 🧲 A fastener
clinch

clinch

5 5.8
A tight hold between two people, as in a hug or a fight
  • noun
  • /klɪntʃ/
translation icon : abrazo
  • The final round opened with Billstein pushing Filkins into the corner and the clinch.
  • go into a clinch
  • break a clinch
  • in the clinch

Nah, He he taught me a lot in the clinch game.

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Examples

  • Barrow then went in again for another takedown but got overpowered and back into the clinch.

    Blog text (2)

  • After a long embrace, they finally broke apart from their clinch at the end of the dance.

  • MIKE: Great work in the clinch.

    Here Comes the Boom (2012)

  • Michael must have seen me in a clinch with Robin at the door.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • But she was not moving, as if she were used to seeing men in a clinch.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Araujo rushed in for a clinch, but Smith turned him around and took him down.

    Blog text (31)

  • Round 1: Lamoureux rushed right in and forced the clinch against the cage.

    Blog text (2)

  • Rachel and Portman are still locked in the clinch.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Bessette then pushed the action against the cage again and worked the clinch.

    Blog text (2)

  • Condit, on the other hand, is perfectly content to stay upright and trade strikes in the clinch.

    Blog text (24)

Synonyms

hug
vsclinch
433 1.0

A tight hold with the arms to show care

is broader, including fighting grips as well as affectionate embraces
hold
vsclinch
294 1.0

A firm grip on something

is specific to close embraces or fighting grips rather than any grasp
squeeze
vsclinch
  • Informal
10 2.0

A tight warm hug

is more neutral and also covers fighting or boxing control
bear hug
vsclinch
9 3.0

A very strong, tight hold with your arms around someone

is a close control position used for restraint rather than sheer force
wrestling hold
vsclinch
  • Specialized
1 4.7

A grip or move used to control an opponent in a match

is used more broadly for close embraces and boxing control
abrazo
vsclinch
  • Jargon
9.9

A close hold fighters use to control an opponent and stop strikes

is identical in meaning and refers to the same close fighter control position

Compounds

double clinch
  • Specialized
7.5

A knot made with two loops to hold a fishing line and hook tightly

inside clinch
  • Jargon
9.3

A knot that holds a fishing hook by passing the line end through a loop

outside clinch
  • Jargon
9.1

A fishing knot where the line end goes outside the loop before pulling tight

How Tight

clinch
5 5.8
bear hug
9 3.0
to grip
85 1.3
to hold
∞ 1.0
touch
360 1.0

Surface Forms

clinch singular
clinches plural

Etymology

The noun clinch meaning a close embrace comes from the same root as clench, meaning 'to grip' or 'hold tightly'. A romantic or friendly clinch is a tight hug or hold, which fits the word's origin about holding fast.