clingy

adjective

ˈkliŋ-ē 

clingier; clingiest

: having the quality of clinging to someone or something: such as

a

: tending to adhere to a surface upon contact

a clingy plastic wrap

clingy fabrics/clothes

In her clingiest [=tightest-fitting] dress she swings into town and soon has the men howling.

—Peter Travers

b

: tending to stay very close to someone (such as a parent) for emotional support, protection, etc.

a clingy child

Some kids act out or become whiny to get a parent's attention; others become clingy or fearful.

—Leah Hennen

clinginess noun

disliked the fabric's clinginess

Any number of women I interviewed cited clinginess in a boyfriend as a major deal breaker.

—Liza Mundy

Synonyms of clingy

• adhesive
• sticky

Examples of clingy in a Sentence

it took forever to clean up the clingy Styrofoam pellets that had been used as packing material for the lamp

Recent Examples on the Web

The first police officer to arrive on scene found Rylaarsdam performing CPR on Dale, who was wearing sweatpants and shiny black boots and was wrapped in clingy plastic from about the thighs down. —Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026

Kids this age may still act more clingy in certain situations that are new or feel overwhelming. —Melissa Willets, Parents, 5 June 2026

That starts with duck-walking through clingy brush to find their eggs. —Nathan Rott, NPR, 27 May 2026

Fennell skips over the ceremony, to a scene of Cathy alone at a banquet table where Edgar’s clingy ward, Isabella (Alison Oliver), gives her the wedding gift of a Cathy doll, installed in a dollhouse identical to her new home. —Judy Berman, Time, 27 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clingy

• dinghy
• springy
• stringy