clenched; clenching; clenches
1
2
: to hold fast : clutch
clenched the arms of the chair
3
: to set or close tightly
clench one's teeth
clench one's fists
clench
noun
Examples of clench in a Sentence
He clenched his teeth and continued to look straight ahead.
He clenched his fists in anger.
She was angry and spoke quietly through clenched teeth.
His jaw clenched and unclenched as he listened to the speech.
She danced alone, with a rose clenched in her teeth.
He was clenching a cigarette in his teeth.
Recent Examples on the Web
Also, American stress levels have been steadily increasing year over year, and studies show that people who are stressed are more likely to develop bruxism—a.k.a. teeth clenching and grinding.
—
Mary Honkus, Allure, 29 Apr. 2025
Stop participating in bad habits that worsen the pain, such as nail biting, chewing on the lips or cheeks, or clenching or grinding your teeth.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 14 Apr. 2025
At one point, a drone show lit up the night sky, with the formations showing a series of images: Mr. Duterte’s face, his trademark clenched fist, and then his signature.
—Aie Balagtas See, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Captain Virgil van Dijk bent his knees and clenched his fists.
—James Pearce, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clench
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Mary Honkus, Allure, 29 Apr. 2025
Stop participating in bad habits that worsen the pain, such as nail biting, chewing on the lips or cheeks, or clenching or grinding your teeth.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 14 Apr. 2025
At one point, a drone show lit up the night sky, with the formations showing a series of images: Mr. Duterte’s face, his trademark clenched fist, and then his signature.
—Aie Balagtas See, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Captain Virgil van Dijk bent his knees and clenched his fists.
—James Pearce, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clench
Cite this Entry
“Clench.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clench. Accessed 16 May. 2025.
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