adjective Uncommon

pinched

Pinched (adjective) means looking thin, tense, or drawn, especially from cold, worry, or hunger. Example: “His face looked pinched after the long, sleepless night.”

adjective

Looking thin, tense, or drawn, especially from cold, worry, or hunger.

"His face looked pinched after the long, sleepless night."

Short of money; financially squeezed.

"Many families are feeling pinched after the latest round of price rises."

How to use pinched

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither looking drawn and strained, or financially stretched thin.

Common pairings

a pinched expression financially pinched

Word forms

more pinched comparative, most pinched superlative

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His face looked _____ after the long, sleepless night.

Frequently asked questions

What does “pinched” mean?

The word “pinched” means looking thin, tense, or drawn, especially from cold, worry, or hunger. In plain terms, either looking drawn and strained, or financially stretched thin.

How do you use “pinched” in a sentence?

Here is “pinched” used in a sentence: “His face looked pinched after the long, sleepless night.”

What part of speech is “pinched”?

“Pinched” is an adjective.

Is “pinched” a common word?

“Pinched” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “pinched” have?

“Pinched” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: looking thin, tense, or drawn, especially from cold, worry, or hunger.