Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • See unclench.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To cause to be no longer clinched; to open.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb Alternative form of unclench.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

un- +‎ clinch

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Examples

  • Personally, I appreciate the "reach out the hand, all you need to do is unclinch the fist" approach.

    Obama to Iran: 'The whole world is watching' 2009

  • To paraphrase President Obama's famous statement on election night 4-NOV-2008 that if the Iranian leadership just "unclinch their fist", the U.S. and Iran could talk things out and come to an agreement.

    Iranian leader: Obama administration 'wicked,' 'untrustworthy' 2010

  • While Iran is parilously close to building a nuclear weapon Obama continues to ask them unclinch their fist.

    Obama wrote letter to N. Korean leader, official says 2009

  • Forcing himself to unclinch his fists, he took four steps to the narrow oblong window and peered at the smudged lights above the rain-damped garden.

    The Silent Warrior Modesitt, L. E. 1987

  • The scenes that I have witnessed are enough to harrow up the soul; but could the slave be permitted to tell the story of his sufferings, which no white man, not linked with slavery, _is allowed to know, _ the land would vomit out the horrible system, slaveholders and all, if they would not unclinch their grasp upon their defenceless victims.

    The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Part 3 of 4 American Anti-Slavery Society

  • The scenes that I have witnessed are enough to harrow up the soul; but could the slave be permitted to tell the story of his sufferings, which no white man, not linked with slavery, _is allowed to know, _ the land would vomit out the horrible system, slaveholders and all, if they would not unclinch their grasp upon their defenceless victims.

    The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Omnibus American Anti-Slavery Society

  • As Albert looked at it he began unconsciously to clinch and unclinch his teeth.

    The Last of the Chiefs A Story of the Great Sioux War 1890

  • I should be glad to see our suppliant negotiator in the act of putting his feather to the ear of the directory, to make it unclinch the fist; and, by his tickling, to charm that rich prize out of the iron gripe of robbery and ambition!

    Political Pamphlets George Saintsbury 1889

  • Tug as he would at the old man's wrists, the hangman could not force him to unclinch his hands.

    Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 11 Charles Dudley Warner 1864

  • His stout hands were quickly raised, and then his grasp encompassed the dog's throat so tightly that his eyes nearly started from their sockets, and he was glad to unclinch his teeth, and gasp for breath.

    The Gold Hunters' Adventures Or, Life in Australia William Henry Thomes 1859

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