cling (to)

verb

Definition of cling (to)next
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

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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)
  1. defend
  2. grip
  3. stand by
  4. clutch
  5. clench
  6. hold
  7. grab
Verb
  • The strong undercard also features two world title fights, with Hamzah Sheeraz and Josh Kelly defending their belts.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • His challenge will be to understand NFL concepts and defend shifty technicians.
    — Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of defend
Verb
  • The cutest sandal styles don’t always have the best arch support or traction—not to mention, our feet have to grip to hold them in place—while orthopedic sandals aren’t typically known for their stylish aesthetic.
    — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 20 July 2026
  • And while Shakira drew big cheers, as did the appearance of Bieber, these paled in comparison to the cheers and oh’s and ah’s in the crowd throughout the gripping final.
    — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 19 July 2026
Definition of grip
Verb
  • Justin Sullivan | Getty Images The Food and Drug Administration stood by its main conclusions about the origin of the cyclosporiasis outbreak yesterday after its announcement of a false positive test led to confusion.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 21 July 2026
  • The France players headed down the tunnel and England stood by the podium in the middle of the pitch.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of stand by
Verb
  • Hailey, in turn, wore a Christian Dior by John Galliano red silk micro minidress cut with black lace (from the fashion house’s Fall/Winter 2005 collection), plus The Row Sacha thong sandals, a black croc leather clutch and slim black sunglasses.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
  • Just picture wearing this manicure while clutching an Aperol spritz on a winding cobblestone street!
    — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 16 July 2026
Definition of clutch
Verb
  • Janet held the phone away from her ear, clenching her teeth against Maggie’s booming voice.
    — Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
  • Clad in the world champion’s rainbows, Evenepoel clenched both his fists, beamed a toothy grin, and hugged his soigneur.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of clench
Verb
  • The winners will meet up in the November general election in a contest for the seat currently held by Charlie Franklin.
    — Nathan Pilling July 26, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026
  • Temperatures in France and Spain show no sign of easing, holding steady on Sunday and expected to soar as high as 42 degrees Celsius (107 degrees Fahrenheit) next week, according to local meteorologists.
    — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 26 July 2026
Definition of hold
Verb
  • Paredes was quickly on the scene, grabbing Garcia briefly by the throat and shoving him to the floor.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • If relaxing is more your speed, grab a glass of Chablis, settle into an Adirondack chair with a good book, and watch the sunlight dance across the lily pads.
    — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 20 July 2026
Definition of grab
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.

Browse Nearby Words

clings (to)
cling (to)
clingy
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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 28 Jul. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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