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