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
Relevance
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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cling (to)
Verb
-
The case gripped Australia The bizarre and tragic case has lingered in the minds of Australians and has provoked fervor among the public and media.—
Charlotte Graham-McLay,
Los Angeles Times,
7 July 2025 -
When your hands are covered in flour, holding a paintbrush, or gripping a climbing wall, your phone is simply unavailable.—
Marina Cooley,
CNBC,
5 July 2025
Verb
-
Panicked passengers can be seen in the footage clutching onto their masks as a flight attendant makes an announcement.—
Latoya Gayle,
People.com,
1 July 2025
-
Myung-gi turns to look at Gi-hun, who clutches the baby a little closer to his chest.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
Jake Gyllenhaal’s Jack Twist is Ennis’ foil in every way: loose where Ennis is clenched, hungry where Ennis is stoic.—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
27 June 2025
-
As detailed in the documentary, many passengers popped Imodium and clenched their cheeks, hoping to escape the ship without having to grab a bag, but four days is a long time.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, four other women’s champions successfully defended their titles.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
-
And the company defended its driver-assistance systems.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
And believe it or not, plenty are genuinely comfortable, holding their own against traditional footwear.—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
15 July 2025
-
Dreck is intended to highlight that rules are not alone in the regulatory universe, and urge that policymakers recognize and be held to account for the laundering of regulation by non-rule means to influence outcomes or inflict obligations, whether intentional or not.—
Clyde Wayne Crews Jr,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
Order fish tacos or fresh salads at Bad Boy Burrito; grab at coffee at Cafe Moka; shop for clothing and gifts at Miss Monroe Boutique; and browse the open-air stalls at boo kee sue Botanics for handmade textiles, ceramics, and more.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
12 July 2025
-
Pick up seasonal staples like this breezy maxi dress and these Crocs recovery slides to comfortably beat the heat, or grab year-round closet staples like these classic Levi’s jeans and this timeless button-down shirt by Gap.—
Clara McMahon,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
The Trump administration stands by its decision, as does FBI Director Kash Patel.—
Mackenzie Thomas,
The Washington Examiner,
6 July 2025
-
But perhaps the most interesting facet of the museum is the volunteers who stand by to answer questions.—
Diana Lambdin Meyer,
USA Today,
5 July 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Cling (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cling%20%28to%29. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share