cling 1 of 2

as in adhesion
a physical sticking to as if by glue for certain types of materials that plastic wrap has very little cling

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cling

2 of 2

verb

as in to adhere
to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion a dozen magnets clinging to the refrigerator

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb cling contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of cling are adhere, cleave, cohere, and stick. While all these words mean "to become closely attached," cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils.

clinging to a capsized boat

When can adhere be used instead of cling?

The words adhere and cling can be used in similar contexts, but adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together.

antibodies adhering to a virus

In what contexts can cleave take the place of cling?

While in some cases nearly identical to cling, cleave stresses strength of attachment.

the wet shirt cleaved to his back

When could cohere be used to replace cling?

While the synonyms cohere and cling are close in meaning, 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 cling?

In some situations, the words stick and cling are roughly equivalent. However, stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together.

couldn't get the label to stick

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 cling
Noun
The smell of hot cereal and damp earth clings low in the air. Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025 The ego clings to likes, views, and applause just to feel whole. Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
Baseball clings to its nine innings and statistical purity, even as pitch clocks, ghost runners and larger bases quicken the pace and spark fan interest. Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025 Pleats down the front of the wide-leg pants create movement with every step (and won’t cling to your body), while the elastic waistband will be comfortably against your stomach even when seated for long periods of time. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cling
Noun
  • Upon reviewing the affected vehicles, Ford learned that the door trim in the qualifying vehicles was applied without the use of hand rollers, which helped operators ensure complete adhesion, per the recall report.
    Greta Cross, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Overcoming adhesion challenges A significant hurdle is ensuring strong adhesion of the decorative films on both PV glass modules and metal facade elements.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But the kitchen, overseen by Curtola along with the chef de cuisine Ben Zook, seems more interested in conjuring an authenticity of atmosphere than in adhering strictly to traditional recipes or preparations.
    Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025
  • But the vote by the CDC’s advisory committee carries additional implications for vaccine access since some states adhere closely to its recommendations.
    Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The emotions that drive decisions at the top of the free-agent market — sentimentality, desperation, urgency — are dulled by the organization’s adherence to process.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • It’s aimed at weakening our collective, across-the-board sense of boundaries, the mutual adherence to limits that sports are supposed to teach.
    Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The true death knell, however, is the fact that the mix of dreary and dreamlike — the very juxtaposition that gives Kiss of the Spider Woman its aenima and its sting — sit too uneasily next to each other, as if both halves were stuck in a separate conversation instead of talking to each other.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025
  • As people stuck in the middle of a house move or a home renovation will know, things rarely run to schedule.
    Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This condition is known to affect behavior, navigation, and social bonding.
    Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025
  • This behavior can stem from a desire for attention, smart dog breeds manipulating situations or social bonding.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cling. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

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