cohesive

adjective

co·​he·​sive kō-ˈhē-siv How to pronounce cohesive (audio)
-ziv
: exhibiting or producing cohesion or coherence
a cohesive social unit
cohesive soils
the cohesive property of clay
cohesively adverb
cohesiveness noun

Did you know?

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 Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Aztecs lost All-County point guard Madi Lam to Santa Margarita but could maintain their cohesive play under coach Jimmy Valverde. Dan Albano, Orange County Register, 7 Nov. 2024 The attention to detail in the packaging, along with the tribute to Basquiat’s visual language, aims to create a cohesive connection between the art and the champagne. Rachel King, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 The in-house Wondershop brand offers cohesive accessories, so your home can have coordinated, cozy cheer — including trees, garlands, ornaments, toppers, and tree skirts. Olivia Avitt, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024 Their aim in collecting such folklore—alongside the fairy tales, the Grimms published legends, songs, myths—was to create a cohesive national identity for German speakers. Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cohesive 

Word History

Etymology

Latin cohaesus, past participle of cohaerēre "to stick together, cohere" + -ive

First Known Use

1718, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cohesive was in 1718

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Dictionary Entries Near cohesive

Cite this Entry

“Cohesive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cohesive. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

cohesive

adjective
co·​he·​sive kō-ˈhē-siv, -ziv How to pronounce cohesive (audio)
: exhibiting or producing cohesion
cohesively adverb
cohesiveness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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