How does the verb cleave contrast with its synonyms?
Some common synonyms of cleave are adhere, cling, cohere, and stick. While all these words mean "to become closely attached," cleave stresses strength of attachment.
the wet shirt cleaved to his back
When might adhere be a better fit than cleave?
The words adhere and cleave can be used in similar contexts, but adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together.
antibodies adhering to a virus
When is it sensible to use cling instead of cleave?
The meanings of cling and cleave largely overlap; however, cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils.
clinging to a capsized boat
When could cohere be used to replace cleave?
The words cohere and cleave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass.
eggs will make the mixture cohere
Where would stick be a reasonable alternative to cleave?
While in some cases nearly identical to cleave, stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together.
Yet the team, buoyed by an uncanny ability to win at home and produce power whenever needed, is clinging to the top of the National League East standings like grim death.
—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Perhaps nastiest of all, though, are the human bacteria likely clinging to your seemingly new clothes.
—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
28 June 2025
Jeannot didn’t stick in Tampa and has never come close to matching that one wild season, in part because his opportunity, both with the Lightning and the Kings, plummeted.
—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
And while other candidates have brought up the allegations and hit at Cuomo's record, no one attack seems to be sticking, and polling shows that Cuomo remains the front-runner.
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