taking hold vs clench

taking hold and clench both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
taking hold	Yes	No	No	No
clench	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, clench is a hyponym of taking hold; that is, clench is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than taking hold:

taking hold: the act of gripping something firmly with the hands (or the tentacles)
clench: the act of grasping

Other hyponyms of taking hold include clasp, clutch, clutches, grasp, grip, hold.

taking hold (noun)	clench (noun)
the act of gripping something firmly with the hands (or the tentacles)	the act of grasping
	a small slip noose made with seizing

taking hold (verb)	clench (verb)
	hold in a tight grasp
	squeeze together tightly