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.

Many oil-market analysts at the onset of the U.S.-Iran war said the global economy would start to feel the pinch of a virtually shut Strait of Hormuz as early as May.

From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026

As households feel the pinch from rising prices at the bowser, Chalmers said the government would offer 13 million workers a new Aus$250 payment each year.

From Barron's • May 12, 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

If the energy market doesn’t normalize in the coming months, New England and other areas could also feel the pinch.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

I could feel the pinch of its heat.

From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline

feel the pinch

Example Sentences

Related Words