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

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
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.
This isn’t a chunky knit, rather a cardigan that feels more like a jacket or house coat; the top molds to the body, while somehow not feeling overly clingy. Madeline Fass, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025 His inability to make hard decisions or abstain from becoming a maudlin, clingy drunk had transformed me from his girlfriend and lover into his mother and disciplinarian. Julia Ioffe, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025 The humorous update, which prompted a flood of amused comments from viewers, offers a relatable look at the challenges many dog owners face when training their pets to be alone—particularly with a clingy breed like a Bernese mountain dog. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025 The thong cut keeps it invisible under clingy fabrics too. Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for clingy

Word History

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clingy was in 1702

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clingy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clingy. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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