CLEAVING Synonyms: 14 Similar and Opposite Words

cleaving

verb

present participle of cleave

as in adhering

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

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Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of cleaving By the time Lincoln was elected president in 1860, slavery was already cleaving the country. — Chris Kenning, USA Today, 2 July 2026 Something like cleaving a payroll system in three has to be done flawlessly, for example, so staff still get paid on time. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 12 June 2026 Inequality is cleaving the haves and the have-nots. — Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 24 May 2026 The shakeup in Kraft Heinz’s senior ranks is an initial step in CEO Steve Cahillane’s ambitious plan to turn around the company, instead of cleaving its top-performing condiments and boxed meals apart from its lower-growth grocery staples. — Kristina Peterson, Bloomberg, 18 Feb. 2026 And of course, from a more skeptical perspective, the whole project could be described as cleaving close to the wisdom of the strippers in Gypsy. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleaving

Verb

Unlike in Cutud, participants are mostly female faith healers adhering not to vows but to mystic trances and possession.

— H.M.A. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 10 July 2026
Decorating rules can be helpful guidelines, but adhering too strictly to conventional wisdom can seriously cramp your style.

— Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 23 June 2026

Definition of adhering

Verb

The lightweight fabric drapes beautifully without clinging, while the elastic drawstring waistband keeps them comfortable during long flights and road trips.

— Aashna Gheewalla, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
New Orleans Museum of Art, permanent collection Visitors appear to be clinging to the façade of a Haussmannian building several stories above a Paris street, defying gravity with effortless ease.

— Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026

Definition of clinging

Verb

SerpApi is hoping that the fight will be over soon, telling Ars that the costly legal battle is worth sticking it out to defend the open web.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 27 July 2026
The site points out that dogs sticking their head or paws out the window could lead to them darting out or getting injured, and the brand says pets should be restricted to the backseat.

— Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026