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

• 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

This viral moment struck a chord with many pet owners familiar with the breed’s affectionate and often clingy behavior. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025

But even more remarkable were the clingy pantsuits in the same shade, mixed with white and red minidresses tied with equally bold red bowties. —Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 18 Sep. 2025

And indeed, these are her most cinematic paintings yet, like stills from a 1980s horror film where something goes terribly wrong at the prom—though the silk gloves, clingy tights, and ruffled blouses and dresses her subjects wear could easily belong to some angelic Victorian scene. —Grace Edquist, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2025

All this comes out as Cynthia lets her clingy white colleague, Janine, accompany her. —Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 7 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clingy

• dinghy
• springy
• stringy