clench
/klɛn(t)ʃ
/verb
1(With reference to the fingers or hand) close into a tight ball, especially as a manifestation of extreme anger: [with object]: she clenched her fists, struggling for control [no object]: Ian’s right hand clenched into a fist (as adjective clenched) he struck the wall with his clenched fist...
- His eyes danced with anger and he had his fingers clenched into a tight ball.
- His fingers convulsively clenched into fists for an instant before he forced his tense muscles to relax.
- His face twisted into furry and his hands clenched into tight fists.
1.1(With reference to the teeth) press or be pressed tightly together, especially with anger or determination or so as to suppress a strong emotion: he clenched his teeth, fighting waves of nausea...
- He said furiously through teeth that were clenched tightly together.
- I could see that his teeth were clenched with suppressed emotion; tears or anger I couldn't tell.
- It's enough to leave you breathless - if you could forget the obsession with an air-giving hose clenched tightly between your teeth.
Synonyms
squeeze together, press together, clamp together, close tightly, shut tightly;
grit;
make into a fist, make into a ball
1.2 [with object] Grasp (something) tightly and firmly: he clenched the steering wheel so hard that the car wobbled...
- Sarah asked bravely, her hands still firmly clenching Migoto's waist.
- A small, black satchel lay over his left shoulder, and a 4-foot long wooden staff was clenched firmly in his right paw.
- Sitting upright, his knuckles paled as he clenched the bedcover firmly.
Synonyms
grip, grasp, grab, clutch, clamp, clasp, hold tightly, seize, press, squeeze, lay (one's) hands on, fasten one's hand on, hang on to
1.3 [no object] (Of a muscular part of the body) tighten or contract sharply, especially with strong emotion: Mark felt his stomach clench in alarm...
- His body is clenching from the pain and his mouth is drooling.
- Still, when she tried to open her eyes, her body clenched in protest.
- My body clenched in anticipation of the bullets that would rip through it.
noun [in singular]
A contraction or tightening of part of the body: she saw the anger rise, saw the clench of his fists...
- The creases in her face deepened as his frown turned into a clench.
- It had not helped, even with the burning clench of his muscles or the adrenaline coursing through his body.
- I looked away from Matt as I felt a clench in my chest.
Synonyms
contraction, tightening, tensing, tension, constricting, cramp
Origin
Old English (in the sense of clinch 'fix securely'): of Germanic origin; related to cling.