fist
1 of 2noun
ˈfist 
1
: the hand clenched with the fingers doubled into the palm and the thumb doubled inward across the fingers
2
: the hand closed as in grasping : clutch
3
: index sense 5
fist
2 of 2verb
fisted; fisting; fists
transitive verb
1
: to grip with the fist : handle
2
: to clench into a fist
Example Sentences
Noun He pounded his fist on the table in anger. She pounded on the door with both fists. He defiantly shook his fist at the policeman.
Recent Examples on the Web
Andy Meek, Forbes, 24 July 2022 Internet users keyed in on Luria's juxtaposition of the fist-bump photo and the running videos to target Hawley. Jonathan Edwards, BostonGlobe.com, 22 July 2022 Internet users keyed in on Luria’s juxtaposition of the fist-bump photo and the running videos to target Hawley. Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 22 July 2022 But that fist-bump also signaled that the administration’s half-hearted effort to freeze out bin Salman over his numerous human rights violations was over; relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia had normalized. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 21 July 2022 Nonetheless, President Joe Biden met – and shared a cordial fist-bump with – Prince Mohammed at a diplomatic summit last week in Saudi Arabia. Isabel Debre, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 July 2022 However, Biden and Salmon exchanged a fist-bump upon the president's arrival in Saudi Arabia, sparking concern about poor optics in light of the report. Kelly Laco, Fox News, 18 July 2022 The media pool traveling with Biden was not given access to his entry into the palace, leaving it to the Saudi government — eager to play up the visit — to release photos showing the men fist-bump and walking to the meeting site together. Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2022 Afterward, a euphoric Cooper did a double fist-bump, tossed his hat into the crowd and high-fived fans on his victory lap around the arena. John Whisler, San Antonio Express-News, 27 Feb. 2022 Scott Kushner, NOLA.com, 13 Jan. 2021 Players must limit interactions to fist and elbow bumps. Rod Walker, NOLA.com, 12 Jan. 2021 The government’s economic stimulus measures have been similarly ham-fisted. The Economist, 23 May 2020 Not even if your girlfriend is getting fisted on the regular or impaled by a dozen swarthy men brandishing wine bottles. Anna Pulley, chicagotribune.com, 14 Oct. 2019 The shah, Washington’s closest ally in the Persian Gulf, had fled Tehran in January 1979 in the face of a burgeoning uprising against his 38 years of iron-fisted rule. David D. Kirkpatrick, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2019 But the film is too clumsy and ham-fisted by half to bring much authenticity or wit to the measure of these women's experiences. Isaac Feldberg, Fortune, 13 Dec. 2019 Predictably, the script’s attempts to nail down these characterizations are almost uniformly ham-fisted, a flaw that appears to have occurred to no one who participated in its composition or filming. Graham Hillard, National Review, 7 Dec. 2019 Then, the man in the red shirt and another man begin to fist fight. Elisha Fieldstadt, NBC News, 8 July 2019 See More
Noun
Biden flew to the Middle East earlier this month and greeted MBS with an informal fist-bump. Andy Meek, Forbes, 24 July 2022 Internet users keyed in on Luria's juxtaposition of the fist-bump photo and the running videos to target Hawley. Jonathan Edwards, BostonGlobe.com, 22 July 2022 Internet users keyed in on Luria’s juxtaposition of the fist-bump photo and the running videos to target Hawley. Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 22 July 2022 But that fist-bump also signaled that the administration’s half-hearted effort to freeze out bin Salman over his numerous human rights violations was over; relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia had normalized. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 21 July 2022 Nonetheless, President Joe Biden met – and shared a cordial fist-bump with – Prince Mohammed at a diplomatic summit last week in Saudi Arabia. Isabel Debre, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 July 2022 However, Biden and Salmon exchanged a fist-bump upon the president's arrival in Saudi Arabia, sparking concern about poor optics in light of the report. Kelly Laco, Fox News, 18 July 2022 The media pool traveling with Biden was not given access to his entry into the palace, leaving it to the Saudi government — eager to play up the visit — to release photos showing the men fist-bump and walking to the meeting site together. Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2022 Afterward, a euphoric Cooper did a double fist-bump, tossed his hat into the crowd and high-fived fans on his victory lap around the arena. John Whisler, San Antonio Express-News, 27 Feb. 2022 Verb
Then, once on the court, players are outlawed from high-fives, relegated instead to fist or elbow bumps. Scott Kushner, NOLA.com, 13 Jan. 2021 Players must limit interactions to fist and elbow bumps. Rod Walker, NOLA.com, 12 Jan. 2021 The government’s economic stimulus measures have been similarly ham-fisted. The Economist, 23 May 2020 Not even if your girlfriend is getting fisted on the regular or impaled by a dozen swarthy men brandishing wine bottles. Anna Pulley, chicagotribune.com, 14 Oct. 2019 The shah, Washington’s closest ally in the Persian Gulf, had fled Tehran in January 1979 in the face of a burgeoning uprising against his 38 years of iron-fisted rule. David D. Kirkpatrick, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2019 But the film is too clumsy and ham-fisted by half to bring much authenticity or wit to the measure of these women's experiences. Isaac Feldberg, Fortune, 13 Dec. 2019 Predictably, the script’s attempts to nail down these characterizations are almost uniformly ham-fisted, a flaw that appears to have occurred to no one who participated in its composition or filming. Graham Hillard, National Review, 7 Dec. 2019 Then, the man in the red shirt and another man begin to fist fight. Elisha Fieldstadt, NBC News, 8 July 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English fȳst; akin to Old High German fūst fist, Polish pięść, and probably to Old English fīf five
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing fist
Kids Definition
fist
noun
ˈfist
: the hand with the fingers bent tight into the palm
Medical Definition
fist
noun
ˈfist
: the hand clenched with the fingers doubled into the palm and the thumb doubled inward across the fingers
fisting
verb
as in clasping
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- clasping
- gripping
- grasping
- clutching
- holding
- securing
- gloving
- cornering
- wresting
- rending
- detaining
- latching (on or onto)
- baying
- fastening (on)
- roping
- arresting
- lassoing
- apprehending
- kidnapping
- enmeshing
- entrapping
- entangling
- grappling
- grabbing
- ensnaring
- haltering
- snatching
- trapping
- meshing
- abducting
- immeshing
- collaring
- rapping
- hooking
- seizing
- nailing
- landing
- snagging
- kidnaping
- copping
- bagging
- capturing
- netting
- snaring
- nobbling
- catching
- glomming
- getting
- spiriting (away or off)
- snapping (up)
- corralling
- nabbing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- missing
- discharging
- loosening
- releasing
- freeing
- liberating
- unhanding
- dropping