Word
clutching
Phoneticsclutch·ing
US/ˈkɫətʃɪŋ/
UK/klˈʌtʃɪŋ/
Definition
v. holding onto something very tightly because you are afraid, in pain, or do not want to lose it.
v. grasping or seizing something tightly with the hands, often due to fear, anxiety, or physical distress.
Examples
“She was clutching her bag tightly on the crowded train.”
“The child stood by the door, clutching a worn teddy bear as he watched his parents leave for the evening.”
“The survivor was found clutching a piece of driftwood, having maintained a desperate grip throughout the freezing night until the rescue team finally arrived.”
Examples
simple
“She was clutching her bag tightly on the crowded train.”
contextual
“The child stood by the door, clutching a worn teddy bear as he watched his parents leave for the evening.”
complex
“The survivor was found clutching a piece of driftwood, having maintained a desperate grip throughout the freezing night until the rescue team finally arrived.”
Usage
The present participle of 'clutch'; functions as a transitive verb taking a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“A non-computer generated image shows architect Winy Maas (the M of MVRDV) clutching a pile of moss-covered pebbles.” “But, clutching her chest in pain as she jogged across the line, she still faced a race against time to recover.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/clutching