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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
PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
The lawsuit between the two far-right, pro-Trump outlets marks a notable fracture in the once-cohesive world of MAGA media.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
But surveys have also shown many reservists are unhappy with the cabinet's plans, some openly accusing the government of lacking a cohesive strategy, a post-war plan for Gaza or a clear benchmark for victory.
—Emily Rose, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Throughout the 90 minute show, the quintet made their disparate sounds flow into a cohesive setlist, with Lewis’ strong vocals stunning the already-rapt crowd.
—William Earl, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cohesive
Cite this Entry
“Cohesive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cohesive. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
cohesive
adjective
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