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)
Verb
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But Cape Verde simply did not wilt in a solid, switched-on 4-5-1 defensive shape, compressing space between the lines and defending heroically in their own penalty area to keep the European Champions at bay, and committing only one foul in the process — the fewest ever recorded in a World Cup game.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
16 June 2026 -
That particularly could be annoying to Uruguay supporters, given Messi’s stature in the sport overall and in particular with defending champion Argentina, La Celeste’s biggest rival.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
Verb
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But for those of us following along at home, the terror and curiosity of what might happen made for gripping TV.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
12 June 2026
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Among those evacuated were Stephen and Katie, during which the deputy chief of staff was pictured gripping his wife — who was eight months pregnant at the time — in front of him.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
Verb
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The judge who presided over the high-profile murder trial of Karmelo Anthony is standing by one of the case's most controversial decisions, saying keeping cameras out of the courtroom was necessary to ensure a fair trial.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
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The lawsuit claims a correctional officer assigned to protect the woman stood by as an inmate followed her into a freezer and pulled a weapon.—
Zach Boetto,
CBS News,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Seconds later, the same officer — now with his gun holstered — is captured on the camera crouching and clutching his left shoulder in pain.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
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In it, Marilyn clutches the pillow toward her, revealing her disarming fragility.—
Michael Soncin,
Vanity Fair,
9 June 2026
Verb
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As the ball landed safely on the other side of the left field fence at Nationals Park on Monday, Dylan Crews clenched his fists and let out a scream.—
Danielle Allentuck,
Washington Post,
16 June 2026
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An accompanying photograph shows Glimcher holding the viewer’s gaze, his right hand outstretched on the desk, clenched in a tight fist.—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Mesa Verde continues to hold great cultural significance for the 27 pueblos and tribes whose ancestors once called the canyons, farms, cliffside and mesa dwellings home or who have other ties to the area.—
Alia Beard Rau,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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She was being held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on June 30.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Grant asks Chris about the boxing gloves now for sale in the night store, but Katie forestalls him by running over and grabbing them, nearly flattening Chris.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
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Demonstrators grabbed bricks from the ground to throw at police, as tear gas was deployed in Geneva's streets, witnesses told Reuters.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 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 17 Jun. 2026.
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