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
1
Looking thin, tense, or drawn, especially from cold, worry, or hunger.
"His face looked pinched after the long, sleepless night."
2
Short of money; financially squeezed.
"Many families are feeling pinched after the latest round of price rises."
How to use pinched
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither looking drawn and strained, or financially stretched thin.
Common pairings
a pinched expression
financially pinched
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more pinched
- Superlative
- most pinched
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His face looked _____ after the long, sleepless night.
Synonyms
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Related words
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.
