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. hold to
  4. clutch
  5. stand by
  6. clench
  7. hold
  8. grab
Verb
  • The official also said developing different weapon systems was increasingly urgent, arguing that the country’s armed forces needed to defend national security and deter external threats.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The Moon’s square to Uranus favors responding to the new situation instead of defending the original promise.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of defend
Verb
  • In this gripping true narrative, historian Matt O’Hara introduces us to the opportunists, adventurers, and chancers who raced both to find curare and figure out a way to make money off it.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The book lovers said these narratives were particularly approachable, with engaging plots, gripping prose and relatable characters.
    — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of grip
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
  • Diplo, the globally famous disc jockey, has become accustomed to performing in front of audiences wearing glitzy outfits and clutching alcoholic beverages in the dark.
    — Alex Harring,Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Today, the magazines are clutching to the cliff edge like Mufasa.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of clutch
Verb
  • To make sure that's the case, there's long been a strict firewall between the doctors and nurses trying to save patients in the hospital, and the organ retrieval teams standing by to try to procure their organs.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The arrangement would also require Netanyahu to jettison far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies who stood by him after the attack and through multiple wars and other crises.
    — Tia Goldenberg, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of stand by
Verb
  • Parents rushing to a reunification center, hearts clenched with the hope of finding their children among the survivors.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
  • On the second, more attentive read, my toes and fingers started to clench.
    — Andrew Lipstein, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of clench
Verb
  • Until now, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has insisted the men were still alive and being held by gangs.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The Boise State defense also produced a turnover-on-downs in the final minutes, batting away several shots at the end zone to hold the Cougars to 10 points.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of hold
Verb
  • In a separate incident Sunday, Basabe flagged down police to report that a parking garage employee grabbed and threw his phone to the ground, the report shows.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Testing spoons stored in a manner where lip contact surface contamination could happen when employee grabs the spoon from container.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 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 7 Nov. 2026.

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