adherence

noun

ad-ˈhir-ən(t)s How to pronounce adherence (audio)
Definition of adherencenext
1
as in adhesion
a physical sticking to as if by glue you'd think these refrigerator magnets would have better adherence—they fall off every time I open the door

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in compliance
the following of a custom, rule, or law adherence to convention requires that the couple send out formal wedding invitations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of adherence Challenges remain, including data accuracy limits and patient adherence gaps. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026 As a result of Holzman’s advocacy and Dylan’s example, the singer-songwriter movement was born, once again proving that American music is defined not by its adherence to the past, but by its capacity for reinvention. — Ted Olson, The Conversation, 2 July 2026 The article argues that while compromise may offer short-term gains, steadfast adherence to one's beliefs builds lasting trust and reputational capital. — True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 However, there is plenty of uncertainty surrounding adherence to the MoU, with the Wall Street Journal reporting Thursday that Iran expects to reel in $40 billion per year as part of a mechanism to impose tolls. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for adherence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adherence
  1. adhesion
  2. compliance
  3. cling
  4. conformity
  5. conformance
  6. observation
  7. observance
Noun
  • Even when symptoms are absent, endometriosis can still cause damage, including scar tissue formation, pelvic adhesions and fertility problems.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • Bed adhesion was excellent on both smooth and textured PEI surfaces without requiring adhesives for standard materials.
    — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 27 June 2026
Definition of adhesion
Noun
  • Treat cybersecurity as an investment in economic competitiveness and national resilience, not simply regulatory compliance.
    — Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • Faced with a national IT compliance mandate, Sapporo’s city government needed to modernize over one million lines of legacy code, which Kaplan estimated would have normally taken 200 engineering months of work.
    — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 3 July 2026
Definition of compliance
Noun
  • The fabric feels cool against my skin and never sticks or clings, even on warmer nights.
    — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
  • The smell of brats clings to the air like SPF 50 on a sunburned uncle.
    — Mark Glende, Twin Cities, 2 July 2026
Definition of cling
Noun
  • Other essential qualities include a substantial heft, range, and engagement with the United States’s history, especially the recurrent issues of racial injustice, religious enthusiasm, social conformity, and rampant capitalism.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
  • In a particularly eerie feat of conformity, every man in the portrait gallery wears a near-identical blue coat, even though portraits from their lifetimes feature them dressed in an assortment of brown, black, gray and other-colored garments.
    — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Definition of conformity
Noun
  • Data freshness, completeness, consistency and schema conformance are tracked with dedicated alerting thresholds.
    — Lev Yatsemyrskyi, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • That said, the final plat is in substantial conformance with the previous proposals, Latinovic said.
    — Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2026
Definition of conformance
Noun
  • About 200,000 such observations, spanning July 2022 to June 2025, formed the dataset the team used to measure Earth’s frame dragging.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026
  • Since the law first gained recognition, numerous other laws and observations similar to Murphy’s law have been put forth that apply to a variety of situations.
    — Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026
Definition of observation
Noun
  • The market was closed Friday in observance of the Fourth of July — so, understandably, Thursday's trading volume was light, which made stocks vulnerable to big swings.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 5 July 2026
  • In observance of the occasion, here is a ranking of Djokovic’s 10 best wins at Wimbledon, based on a combination of significance, performance quality, and entertainment value.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of observance

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adhered (to)
adherence
adherences
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Cite this Entry

“Adherence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adherence. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of adherence for Spanish Speakers

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