Clench
verb
To hold or squeeze something very tightly, often because of strong emotion.
She clenched her fist in anger.
Often appears as...
- clench one's fist
- clench one's teeth
verb
To close teeth tightly together, often because of anger or pain.
He clenched his teeth and bore the pain.
Often appears as...
- clench one's teeth
- clench one's jaw
noun
The act of holding tightly onto something or the state of being held tightly.
He relaxed his clench on the steering wheel.
Often appears as...
- tight clench
- grip
verb
To hold or squeeze something very tightly, often because of strong emotion.
She clenched her fist in anger.
Often appears as...
- clench one's fist
- clench one's teeth
verb
To close teeth tightly together, often because of anger or pain.
He clenched his teeth and bore the pain.
Often appears as...
- clench one's teeth
- clench one's jaw
noun
The act of holding tightly onto something or the state of being held tightly.
He relaxed his clench on the steering wheel.
Often appears as...
- tight clench
- grip
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Strong Emotion
Use 'clench' to describe a physical response to intense feelings like anger or determination.
During the debate, she clenched her fists to stay composed.
Pro Tip 2/3Physical Tension
'Clench' often implies a body part is tense and tight, not relaxed.
He clenched his muscles, readying for the sprint.
Pro Tip 3/3Controlled Action
Clenching is usually a deliberate action, not something done by accident.
She clenched the rope tightly to keep from falling.
Pro Tip 1/3Strong Emotion
Use 'clench' to describe a physical response to intense feelings like anger or determination.
During the debate, she clenched her fists to stay composed.
Pro Tip 2/3Physical Tension
'Clench' often implies a body part is tense and tight, not relaxed.
He clenched his muscles, readying for the sprint.
Pro Tip 3/3Controlled Action
Clenching is usually a deliberate action, not something done by accident.
She clenched the rope tightly to keep from falling.
Pro Tip 1/3Strong Emotion
Use 'clench' to describe a physical response to intense feelings like anger or determination.
During the debate, she clenched her fists to stay composed.
Pro Tip 2/3Physical Tension
'Clench' often implies a body part is tense and tight, not relaxed.
He clenched his muscles, readying for the sprint.
Pro Tip 3/3Controlled Action
Clenching is usually a deliberate action, not something done by accident.
She clenched the rope tightly to keep from falling.
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Video examples
Chinaka Hodge: What will...
Did you teach with an open heart or a clenched fist? Where were you? Tell her the truth. Make it your life. Confirm it. Say, "Daughter, I stood there with the moment drawn on my face like a dagger, and flung it back at itself, slicing space for you." Tell her the truth, how you lived in spite of crooked odds. Tell her you were brave,
Video examples
Is it bad to hold your...
but occasionally, the pressures of modern life forces us to clench and hold it in. How bad is this habit, and how long can our bodies withstand it? The answers lie in the workings of the bladder, an oval pouch that sits inside the pelvis. Surrounding this structure are several other organs
Video examples
3 clues to understanding...
How do you unlearn the learned paralysis, so you can relieve him of this excruciating, clenching spasm of the phantom arm? Well, we said, what if you now send the command to the phantom, but give him visual feedback that it's obeying his command, right?
Video examples
A theory of everything PIPE...
When they lay together in bed it was, as it had to be, as the nature of the act demanded, an act of violence. It was an act of clenched teeth and hatred. It was the unendurable. Not a caress, but a wave of pain. The agony as an act of passion."
Video examples
Stefan Larsson: What...
There were so many ideas, so much enthusiasm. At the end of the meeting, the chairman of the department, he stood up. He looked over the group and he said -- first he raised his hand, I forgot that -- he raised his hand, clenched his fist,
Video examples
Examining A Lost Queen PIPE...
as Nefertiti has been a source of controversy in recent years some scholars make the claim based on several clues the most important a broken arm found in nearby wrappings the hand once clenched a scepter the symbol of
Video examples
The Sausage & the...
see that huge cavernous more of its mouth clenching onto the sausage like it's definitely not gonna let go these amphibians have been around since before the dinosaurs but I've obviously developed a taste for fast food
Video examples
The wild world of...
clenching her in their suffocating grip. Once she asphyxiates, which can happen in under an hour, the tentacles unfurl again to snare their next victim. Two down, four to go. The next target meets his end underground,
Video examples
I don't want children --...
I swallowed every sharp word in my throat, clenched my jaw, and instead answered each one of their condescending questions and statements. I had come here looking for objectivity and support
Video examples
The first secret of...
and it's one of the most basic ways, as humans, we learn. Now, habituation isn't always bad. Remember learning to drive? I sure do. Your hands clenched at 10 and 2 on the wheel,
Video examples
Chinaka Hodge: What will...
Did you teach with an open heart or a clenched fist? Where were you? Tell her the truth. Make it your life. Confirm it. Say, "Daughter, I stood there with the moment drawn on my face like a dagger, and flung it back at itself, slicing space for you." Tell her the truth, how you lived in spite of crooked odds. Tell her you were brave,
Video examples
Is it bad to hold your...
but occasionally, the pressures of modern life forces us to clench and hold it in. How bad is this habit, and how long can our bodies withstand it? The answers lie in the workings of the bladder, an oval pouch that sits inside the pelvis. Surrounding this structure are several other organs
Video examples
3 clues to understanding...
How do you unlearn the learned paralysis, so you can relieve him of this excruciating, clenching spasm of the phantom arm? Well, we said, what if you now send the command to the phantom, but give him visual feedback that it's obeying his command, right?
Video examples
A theory of everything PIPE...
When they lay together in bed it was, as it had to be, as the nature of the act demanded, an act of violence. It was an act of clenched teeth and hatred. It was the unendurable. Not a caress, but a wave of pain. The agony as an act of passion."
Video examples
Stefan Larsson: What...
There were so many ideas, so much enthusiasm. At the end of the meeting, the chairman of the department, he stood up. He looked over the group and he said -- first he raised his hand, I forgot that -- he raised his hand, clenched his fist,
Video examples
Examining A Lost Queen PIPE...
as Nefertiti has been a source of controversy in recent years some scholars make the claim based on several clues the most important a broken arm found in nearby wrappings the hand once clenched a scepter the symbol of
Video examples
The Sausage & the...
see that huge cavernous more of its mouth clenching onto the sausage like it's definitely not gonna let go these amphibians have been around since before the dinosaurs but I've obviously developed a taste for fast food
Video examples
The wild world of...
clenching her in their suffocating grip. Once she asphyxiates, which can happen in under an hour, the tentacles unfurl again to snare their next victim. Two down, four to go. The next target meets his end underground,
Video examples
I don't want children --...
I swallowed every sharp word in my throat, clenched my jaw, and instead answered each one of their condescending questions and statements. I had come here looking for objectivity and support
Video examples
The first secret of...
and it's one of the most basic ways, as humans, we learn. Now, habituation isn't always bad. Remember learning to drive? I sure do. Your hands clenched at 10 and 2 on the wheel,
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Neil Warnock
English Businessman
I love the way the Cardiff fans get behind their team, which is why I do that clenched fist action at the end of games. They get really up for the match, I can hear them and I just help offer my own support in return.
Quote examples
Joan Lunden
American Celebrity
Holding on to anger, resentment and hurt only gives you tense muscles, a headache and a sore jaw from clenching your teeth. Forgiveness gives you back the laughter and the lightness in your life.
Quote examples
Peter Norman
Australian Athlete
The raised arm and the clenched hand was a symbol of unity with the fingers coming together and a symbol of strength. It was never - I don't believe it was ever meant as a threatening gesture.
Quote examples
Henri Nouwen
Dutch Clergyman
The resistance to praying is like the resistance of tightly clenched fists. This image shows a tension, a desire to cling tightly to yourself, a greediness which betrays fear.
Quote examples
Tara Stiles
American Model
What fun is life if it's taken so seriously, and what fun is yoga and the search for enlightenment if we are tight, tense, and clenched up from the inside out?
Quote examples
Ali Wong
American Actress
Breast-feeding was so stressful for me. I kept on clenching and pushing my tongue against the bottom teeth, so they started to move toward an underbite.
Quote examples
Sixto Rodriguez
American Musician
Many of us come into the world with a clenched fist, but we all leave with an open hand.
Quote examples
Ann Voskamp
Canadian Author
I came into this world the way every person on the planet does - with clenched fists.
Quote examples
James Ellroy
American Writer
I'm clenched down, I'm locked in on it, which is my general approach to life.
Quote examples
George Jean Nathan
American Editor
No man can think clearly when his fists are clenched.
Quote examples
Neil Warnock
English Businessman
I love the way the Cardiff fans get behind their team, which is why I do that clenched fist action at the end of games. They get really up for the match, I can hear them and I just help offer my own support in return.
Quote examples
Joan Lunden
American Celebrity
Holding on to anger, resentment and hurt only gives you tense muscles, a headache and a sore jaw from clenching your teeth. Forgiveness gives you back the laughter and the lightness in your life.
Quote examples
Peter Norman
Australian Athlete
The raised arm and the clenched hand was a symbol of unity with the fingers coming together and a symbol of strength. It was never - I don't believe it was ever meant as a threatening gesture.
Quote examples
Henri Nouwen
Dutch Clergyman
The resistance to praying is like the resistance of tightly clenched fists. This image shows a tension, a desire to cling tightly to yourself, a greediness which betrays fear.
Quote examples
Tara Stiles
American Model
What fun is life if it's taken so seriously, and what fun is yoga and the search for enlightenment if we are tight, tense, and clenched up from the inside out?
Quote examples
Ali Wong
American Actress
Breast-feeding was so stressful for me. I kept on clenching and pushing my tongue against the bottom teeth, so they started to move toward an underbite.
Quote examples
Sixto Rodriguez
American Musician
Many of us come into the world with a clenched fist, but we all leave with an open hand.
Quote examples
Ann Voskamp
Canadian Author
I came into this world the way every person on the planet does - with clenched fists.
Quote examples
James Ellroy
American Writer
I'm clenched down, I'm locked in on it, which is my general approach to life.
Quote examples
George Jean Nathan
American Editor
No man can think clearly when his fists are clenched.
Example 1 of 10
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