The Latin verb haerēre has shown remarkable stick-to-itiveness in influencing the English lexicon, which is fitting for a word that means "to be closely attached; to stick." Among its descendants are adhere (literally meaning "to stick"), adhere’s relative adhesive (a word for sticky substances), inhere (meaning "to belong by nature or habit"), and even hesitate (which implies remaining stuck in place before taking action). In Latin, haerēre teamed up with the prefix co- to form cohaerēre, which means "to stick together." Cohaerēre is the ancestor of cohesive, a word borrowed into English in the early 18th century to describe something that sticks together literally (such as dough or mud) or figuratively (such as a society or sports team).
Examples of cohesive in a Sentence
Their tribe is a small but cohesive group.
Religion can be used as a cohesive social force.
Recent Examples on the WebSales and marketing must operate as a cohesive team to deliver a seamless customer experience.—Craig Dempster, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024 Despite the varying historical and geographic points of inspiration, the hotel atmosphere comes together as a cohesive whole; its layers reflecting the building’s rich history and the Victorian flair for eclectic collecting habits.—Vogue, 13 Sep. 2024 Her style blends classic silhouettes with contemporary designs and trends, creating a varied yet cohesive wardrobe for various royal occasions.—Julia Teti, WWD, 9 Sep. 2024 But, by dedicating specific areas for each function, the space ended up feeling incredibly cohesive and purposeful.—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 9 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cohesive
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cohesive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Latin cohaesus, past participle of cohaerēre "to stick together, cohere" + -ive
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