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   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: "she clenched her fists, struggling for control"
   • ▪ (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" Similar squeeze togetherpress togetherclamp togetherclose tightlyshut tightlygritmake into a fistmake into a ball
   • ▪ grasp (something) tightly and firmly: "he clenched the steering wheel so hard that the car wobbled" Similar gripgraspgrabclutchclampclasphold tightlyseizepresssqueezelay (one's) hands onfasten one's hand onhang on to
   • ▪ (with reference to a muscular part of the body) tighten or contract sharply, especially with strong emotion: "my stomach was clenched in a knot"

   noun

   • 1. a contraction or tightening of part of the body: "she saw the anger rise, saw the clench of his fists"

   Word Origin Old English (in the sense of clinch ‘fix securely’): of Germanic origin; related to cling.

   Scrabble Points: 13

   • C

     3

   • L

     1

   • E

     1

   • N

     1

   • C

     3

   • H

     4

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