Synonyms of cling

cling 1 of 2

noun

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

• adhesion
• adherence
• bonding
• adhesiveness
• gluing
• attachment
• tenacity
• cohesion
• agglutination
• cementing
• clumping
• cohesiveness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loosening
• detachment
• unfixing
• unsticking

cling

2 of 2

verb

ˈkliŋ 

as in to adhere

to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion

a dozen magnets clinging to the refrigerator

Synonyms & Similar Words

• adhere
• stick
• cleave
• glue
• hew
• bind
• unite
• fasten
• cohere
• fuse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fall
• loosen
• drop

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

Recent Examples of cling

Noun

Cook pasta, tossing constantly with tongs, until sauce clings to each noodle and liquid is mostly absorbed, about 1 minute. — Claire Saffitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 July 2026

Cook, stirring, until butter melts and sauce clings to pasta. — Torie Cox, Southern Living, 29 July 2026

Verb

Their next two opponents after the Phillies are the Chicago Cubs, who are a game behind the top NL Wild Card spot, and the Houston Astros clinging to a three-game lead in the AL West. — Jesús Cano, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Milk fats and proteins can also cling to silicone surfaces, especially if water does not directly reach the interior. — New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing cling

• cling (to)