cling (to)

verb

Definition of cling (to)next
1
as in to keep (to)
to give steadfast support to continued to cling to the old ideas of child rearing long after they had gone out of fashion

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grip
to have or keep in one's hands clung to a pole in the subway car to keep from falling as it lurched along

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cling (to)
  1. grip
  2. clutch
  3. clench
  4. defend
  5. hold
  6. grab
  7. stand by
Verb
  • The region has been gripped by freezing weather this week with temperatures plunging into the mid-teens Monday night and barely climbing above the high 20s by Tuesday afternoon.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Already, parts of both regions are gripped by a winter storm that has killed at least four people, disrupted travel and knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of households.
    J.J. McCorvey, NBC News, 8 Jan. 2025
Definition of grip
Verb
  • But he’s been one of the most productive and clutch kickers in NFL postseason history, and KC special teams coordinator Dave Toub said Butker has had a solid week of practice.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Brunson grimaced, hunched over, and clutched his right shoulder.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2025
Definition of clutch
Verb
  • In addition to snoring, other symptoms of sleep apnea can include bruxism (teeth clenching), neck pain, anxiety, and daytime drowsiness.
    Mill Etienne, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
  • That’s why Taiwan is buckling up for what could be a far more volatile relationship with Washington, its most important security guarantor, now that Trump has clenched a historic political comeback.
    Wayne Chang, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
Definition of clench
Verb
  • Stephens would do well to stop flagellating himself and the Never Trumpers and instead join democracy advocates in defending the rule of law in a dangerous new world.
    DP Opinion, The Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2025
  • The Biden administration has defended the law by citing a compelling interest in national security.
    Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2025
Definition of defend
Verb
  • The brothers, represented by defense teams from Miami and New York, were not present for the bail review in Manhattan federal court, as they were being held at a federal detention center in Miami.
    Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Adam went on to post a 1.01 ERA over 27 appearances with the Padres, collecting 12 more holds to push his total to 31, seventh-most in the majors.
    Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Jan. 2025
Definition of hold
Verb
  • Zar rushed to a drawer and grabbed from it passports, as well as insurance and banking documents.
    Ray Sanchez, CNN, 13 Jan. 2025
  • So grab your favorite streaming device, line up some snacks, and let the enchantment unfold.
    Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Definition of grab
Verb
  • And a colleague of mine standing by here in the studio with me.
    ABC NEWS, ABC News, 7 Jan. 2025
  • And there will be little Biden can do beyond stand by and watch.
    Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
Definition of stand by
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near cling (to)

clings (to)

cling (to)

clingy

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Cling (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cling%20%28to%29. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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