Synonyms of clenching

clenching

verb

present participle of clench

as in clutching

to have or keep in one's hands

clenched a tissue in his hands as he told his story of misfortune

Synonyms & Similar Words

• clutching
• gripping
• holding
• grabbing
• carrying
• clinging (to)
• cradling
• taking
• holding on to
• hanging on to
• hugging
• clasping
• grasping
• snatching
• seizing
• trapping
• capturing
• handling
• feeling
• grappling
• bagging
• pawing
• fingering
• snapping (up)
• hooking
• catching
• nailing
• latching (on or onto)
• landing
• bearing
• embracing
• snaring
• collaring
• corralling
• nabbing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• giving
• handing
• dropping
• unclasping
• releasing
• yielding
• delivering
• relinquishing
• rendering
• unhanding
• turning over
• giving up
• handing out
• handing over
• ceding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of clenching

Years ago, after Jake died, my instinct as a medical student was anger — clenching my teeth and jabbing a pen into my notepad, making a line of inky holes along the margin. — Caroline Cherston, STAT, 25 Aug. 2026

Janet held the phone away from her ear, clenching her teeth against Maggie’s booming voice. — Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026

His workouts, jaw-clenching pull-ups and all, regularly appear on social media. — Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 22 July 2026

While not everyone experiences such dramatic effects, experts say stress, clenching and even past trauma can contribute to TMJ issues. — Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 22 May 2026

The Beloved, his first film in Competition at Cannes, is an incredible achievement that builds on all those films and leaves them standing in the dust, hitting all the same tense throat-clenching beats but somehow transcending genre altogether. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 16 May 2026

In the premiere, Rue and Faye run drugs across the border, clenching their butts to hold bags of fentanyl in their digestive tract for as long as possible. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026

Protect against teeth grinding, clenching and enamel damage with custom dental solutions from ClearClub. — Tory Johnson, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026

Melvin Council stood amid a crowd of his Kansas teammates, clenching a black belt in his fist. — Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2026