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Definitions

feel the pinch

VERB
need
Synonyms
STRONGEST
call for demand desire lack require
STRONG
claim covet crave exact hanker hunger long lust miss necessitate pine thirst wish yearn
WEAK
be deficient be deprived be down and out be hard up be in need of be in want be inadequate be needy be poor be short be without die for do without drive for feel a dearth of feel the necessity for go hungry have occasion for have occasion to have use for hurt for suffer privation yen for
Antonyms
STRONGEST
have not want
STRONG
abjure despise dislike give hate
WEAK
do not want

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Agriculture will feel the pinch for longer, and liquefied-natural gas will be crimped for years because of damaged infrastructure in major producer Qatar.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

“Even when they do start to feel the pinch, they don’t necessarily change their travel behavior, they cut back on other things.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

He believes that if the labor market continues to weaken, at some point consumers will feel the pinch, threatening a key pillar of the U.S. economy.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 13, 2026

“It is one of our core consumer cohorts. They feel the pinch and we feel the pullback from them as well.”

From Salon • Jan. 13, 2026

I could feel the pinch of its heat.

From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline