clench

Universal Words verb 1 when you clench your hands, teeth, etc., or when they clench, you press or squeeze them together tightly, usually showing that you are angry, determined or upset: [VN] He clenched his fists in anger. * Through clenched teeth she told him to leave. * His jaw was clenched tight. * [V] His fists clenched slowly until his knuckles were white. 2 [VN] ~ sth (in / between sth) to hold sth tightly and firmly: She sat at the desk, her pen clenched between his teeth. * She had a gun clenched tightly in her hand.