cleave

as in to adhere
to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion you should resolutely cleave to the facts in your report

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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.

couldn't get the label to stick

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleave
Verb
  • To illustrate the absurdity of adhering too closely to genre conventions, Galloway describes a plot about an innocent girl who winds up in a strange town.
    Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Dip each piece of chicken in the egg, then in the bread crumbs, pressing gently so the crumbs adhere.
    Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • The motor can be unlocked to bump the top speed to 24 mph (38.6 km/h) when venturing into the wild, with the rider holding onto the high-rise bars while the passenger clings to the rider.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 Aug. 2025
  • Yet clinging to the old system and pining for its restoration would be deluded and futile.
    Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • And since this show isn’t called Gareth: Resurrection, Dexter overtakes him and sticks the broken glass into the man’s neck.
    Nick Caruso, TVLine, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The vast majority of the 15,000-plus who packed Pine Knob were happy to stick it out for the sentimental, sing-along ride.
    Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 15 Aug. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Cleave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleave. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

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