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The Latin verb haerēre has shown remarkable stick-to-itiveness in influencing the English lexicon, which is fitting for a word that means "to be closely attached; to stick." Among its descendants are adhere (literally meaning "to stick"), adhere’s relative adhesive (a word for sticky substances), inhere (meaning "to belong by nature or habit"), and even hesitate (which implies remaining stuck in place before taking action). In Latin, haerēre teamed up with the prefix co- to form cohaerēre, which means "to stick together." Cohaerēre is the ancestor of cohesive, a word borrowed into English in the early 18th century to describe something that sticks together literally (such as dough or mud) or figuratively (such as a society or sports team).
Examples of cohesive in a Sentence
Jessica Wong, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
But the cohesive Liberty with Natasha Cloud as a catalyst are a likely opponent.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 14 May 2025
The visits come as Democrats struggle to form a cohesive message in the second Trump era following a slew of losses in 2024.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 13 May 2025
The Backdoor Girls look cohesive, and their energy is infectious, but Canada’s Drag Race has always struggled with giving the queens memorable songs, and this season is no exception.
—Barry Levitt, Vulture, 12 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Cohesive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cohesive. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
cohesive
adjective
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