How does the verb cleave contrast with its synonyms?
Some common synonyms of cleave are adhere, cling, cohere, and stick. While all these words mean "to become closely attached," cleave stresses strength of attachment.
the wet shirt cleaved to his back
When might adhere be a better fit than cleave?
The words adhere and cleave can be used in similar contexts, but adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together.
antibodies adhering to a virus
When is it sensible to use cling instead of cleave?
The meanings of cling and cleave largely overlap; however, cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils.
clinging to a capsized boat
When could cohere be used to replace cleave?
The words cohere and cleave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass.
eggs will make the mixture cohere
Where would stick be a reasonable alternative to cleave?
While in some cases nearly identical to cleave, stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together.
Simply cut it to match the mat and adhere it with tape or glue.
—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 June 2025
In a final step, the mask was carefully aligned with and applied to the surface of the painting, then adhered in place with a thin spray coating of varnish.
The challenge is that some people will cling to AI sentience and start to revolve their lives around what the seemingly sentient AI tells them to do.
—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
These relaxed shorts won’t cling to your skin on sweltering afternoons, while the sweat-wicking, stretchy material will work overtime to keep you cool.
Thompson will need to prove the most in this area to stick, as well.
—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
The new websites offer a variety of information that appears to stick closely to generally accepted definitions and science around geoengineering and the government’s ongoing research on contrails.
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