clutches

• COUNT in NET: 5 in 5 verses (in OT : 4 in 4 verses) (in NT : 1 in 1 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

clutches, n. 

•  the act of grasping.  [WordNet 1.5]
•  control; power; -- used in the phrase in one's clutches. Same as clutch{2}.  [PJC]

THESAURUS

clutches

administration, authority, claws, command, control, digits, disposition, domination, dominion, empery, empire, fangs, fingernails, fingers, governance, government, grasp, grip, gripe, hand, hands, helm, hold, hooks, iron hand, jaws, jurisdiction, mandibles, mastership, mastery, maxillae, meathooks, mitts, nails, nippers, palm, pincers, pounces, power, raj, regnancy, reign, reins of government, rule, sovereignty, sway, talons, teeth, unguals, ungulae

ROGET THESAURUS

clutches

Authority

N authority, influence, patronage, power, preponderance, credit, prestige, prerogative, jurisdiction, right, direction, government, divine right, dynastic rights, authoritativeness, absoluteness, absolutism, despotism, jus nocendi, jus divinum, mastery, mastership, masterdom, dictation, control, hold, grasp, grip, gripe, reach, iron sway, fangs, clutches, talons, rod of empire, commission, deputy, permission, at the head, dominant, paramount, supreme, predominant, preponderant, in the ascendant, influential, arbitrary, compulsory, stringent, at one's command, in one's power, in one's grasp, under control, in the name of, by the authority of, de par le Roi, in virtue of, under the auspices of, in the hands of, at one's pleasure, by a dash if the pen, by a stroke of the pen, ex mero motu, ex cathedra, from the chair, the gray mare the better horse, every inch a king.

Retention

N retention, retaining, keep, detention, custody, tenacity, firm hold, grasp, gripe, grip, iron grip, fangs, teeth, claws, talons, nail, unguis, hook, tentacle, tenaculum, bond, clutches, tongs, forceps, pincers, nippers, pliers, vice, paw, hand, finger, wrist, fist, neaf, neif, bird in hand, captive, retaining, retentive, tenacious, unforfeited, undeprived, undisposed, uncommunicated, incommunicable, inalienable, in mortmain, in strict settlement, uti possidetis.