Pronunciation: [klˈɛnt͡ʃ] (IPA) 
The word "clench," meaning to tightly grasp or grip, is spelled with the letters C-L-E-N-C-H. Its IPA phonetic transcription is /klɛntʃ/. The first syllable, "clen," is pronounced with a hard "k" sound followed by a short "e" vowel sound. The second syllable, "-ch," is pronounced like the "ch" in "church." When spoken together, the word has a sharp and forceful sound, much like the action it describes.
Clench is a verb that is used to describe the act of tightly gripping or gripping something firmly. It involves closing one's hand or fingers tightly around an object or closing one's teeth or jaw tightly together. The action of clenching signifies a strong and forceful hold or contraction.
When clenching the hand, it typically involves curling the fingers inward and squeezing them tightly, often to show anger, frustration, or determination. It can also be done to hold onto an object securely, such as clenching a steering wheel while driving. Similarly, clenching the teeth involves bringing the upper and lower jaw together forcefully, often when feeling tense, anxious, or when experiencing physical pain.
The term "clench" can also be used in a metaphorical sense to describe firmly holding onto something abstract or intangible, such as clenching onto a secret, an idea, or a feeling. It could represent a strong attachment or emotional grip on something.
Overall, clenching refers to the action of tightly gripping or tightly closing a part of the body, most commonly the hand or jaw, either physically or metaphorically, to display intensity, determination, or firmness.
For clinch, which see; clench-bolts, in a ship, those clenched at the ends where they come through; clench-nails, those which will drive without splitting the board; to clench an argument, to place it in a firm and unassailable position.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "clench" originated from the Middle English word "clenchen", which can be traced back to the Old English word "clencan". This Old English word eventually evolved from the Proto-Germanic word "klenkjaną". The etymology of "clench" goes back further to the Proto-Indo-European root "glongh-", meaning "to hear". In Old English, "clencan" originally meant "to make a noise with the hands" or "to make a sound by striking the hands together". Eventually, the meaning of "clench" shifted to refer to gripping or holding tightly, particularly with the hands or teeth, as we use it today.
