clenched
clenched — verb
1. (past tense / past participle of 'clench') squeezed your fist, hand, jaw, or tee
(past tense / past participle of 'clench') squeezed your fist, hand, jaw, or teeth shut as hard as you could, usually because you were angry, frightened, or trying not to give up.
Aaron clenched his fists when he heard the umpire's bad call against his sister.
common collocation: clench + fists
Tamar clenched her jaw to stop herself from crying in front of the whole class.
collocation: clench + jaw
The little boy clenched a five-dollar bill tightly in his hand all the way to the bakery.
Caio clenched his teeth as the dentist pulled out the broken tooth.
Her hands were clenched so tightly around the steering wheel that her knuckles turned white.
- gritted (teeth)
almost interchangeable with 'clenched the teeth' but more about pressing teeth together to bear pain or push through hardship
- squeezed
broader; can apply to many objects, not just body parts; lacks the angry or tense feeling
- tightened
softer and more general; describes any reduction in slackness, not a sudden hard close
- unclenched
opened the fist or jaw again, often as a sign of relief
- relaxed
lost the tension; broader and less physical
文法句型
clench + body part (fist, jaw, teeth, hand)
clench + object (in your hand/fist)
用法筆記
Almost always paired with a body part (fists, hands, jaw, teeth) or with a small object held in the hand. The word carries a strong emotional charge — anger, fear, pain, determination — so a neutral 'closed' often fits better in calm contexts.