1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cling (to)
Verb
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Climate experts have warned that the extreme conditions gripping southeastern Australia are a public health emergency driven by the burning of fossil fuels.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026 -
Your greatest challenge this year lies in navigating emotional security without gripping too tightly.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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James clutched the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the final image.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
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But for those who are not clutching their pearls or foaming at the mouth over Fennell’s interpretation of the original text, Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s steamy take on the classic promises to deliver a whole host of method-dressing press tour looks for hungry audiences to obsess over.—
Olivia Allen,
Vogue,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Melvin Council stood amid a crowd of his Kansas teammates, clenching a black belt in his fist.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
25 Jan. 2026
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Don’t leave home without a rose clenched between your teeth.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
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One American star who will not be participating is four-time All-Star Kyle Tucker, who recently signed a four-year, $240 million deal with the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Rather than leave, community leaders rallied to defend the site, leading to the creation of Sakura Square and Tamai Tower on the block bounded by Larimer, 20th, Lawrence and 19th Streets.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Goodarzi is being held without bail at the Central Detention Center.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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The 31-year-old would like a round with McTominay at the Marco Simone course in Rome, where the 2023 Ryder Cup was held.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The bottom-line mandate for the Bruins on Monday night was to grab two points against the worst team in the Eastern Conference.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
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On January 13, in a win over the Chicago Bulls, Davison played 24 minutes, scoring 9 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and dishing out 4 assists.—
Rahat Huq,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Crawford said the lying in wait allegations could not be proved because his client was just standing by a gate when the attack happened.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
25 Jan. 2026
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Read on for four key tips that minimalists stand by when decluttering their spaces, and get ready to witness major change within your own home after implementing these helpful techniques.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
25 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Cling (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cling%20%28to%29. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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