CLING (TO) Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

cling (to)

verb

Definition of cling (to)

as in to keep (to)

to give steadfast support to continued to cling to the old ideas of child rearing long after they had gone out of fashion

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to grip

to have or keep in one's hands clung to a pole in the subway car to keep from falling as it lurched along

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cling (to)

Verb

Among the men who publicly defended the klan, representing them in court cases in the 1970s and ’80s, was an attorney named John Edmond Mays.

— Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was not among them, however, even going out of his way to defend and support the Democratic leader.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of defend

Verb

Reese, Naz Hilman and Madina Okot were held to 28 points combined with Okot scoring 16 – mostly in the fourth quarter.

— Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
After scoring 14 runs to begin this four-game series, the Royals have been held to just five runs in their last 18 innings.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026

Definition of hold to

Verb

Garcia lends the whole song theater-kid interpretation, essentially acting out the lyrics in pantomime, grasping out in front of her, clutching her face.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026
Austin appeared to be clutching at his right knee while on the ground, clearly in a lot of pain.

— Dan Duggan, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of clutch

Verb

Towers told ProPublica that the audit had reached erroneous conclusions, that the auditors did not give him the opportunity to fully defend his work and that the journal’s willingness to stand by the study is proof that his research is sound.

— Amy Yurkanin, ProPublica, 24 Aug. 2026
Lucas, Kozakiewicz stand by their positions In the wake of the contradictory filings, both Lucas and Kozakiewicz have remained steadfast in their positions regarding the audit.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of stand by

Verb

As the recording played, with Davis recounting seeing the ambulance that was carrying the rapper, Shakur’s sister clenched her left hand against her mouth.

— Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
The race to replace Whitmer In the governor’s race, Michigan's secretary of state, Jocelyn Benson, seems poised to clench the Democratic nomination over Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.

— Diana Paulsen, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of clench

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clings (to)

cling (to)

clingy

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“Cling (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cling%20%28to%29. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of cling (to)

verb

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