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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South Sudan, where these latest deportations reportedly occurred, remains gripped by conflict and instability.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 May 2025 -
Picture this: the roaming hills of a pastoral land or the grandeur of an enormous palace gripping the attention of an audience.—
Sara Smith,
Variety,
20 May 2025
Verb
-
Cook planted in an attempt to stabilize herself but went down clutching her knee.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
17 May 2025
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More than 200 Rocky Mountain Prep high school seniors made a grand entrance on the floor of the roaring coliseum, clutching the hands of their escorts who, in many cases, were mom and dad.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
15 May 2025
Verb
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Also, American stress levels have been steadily increasing year over year, and studies show that people who are stressed are more likely to develop bruxism—a.k.a. teeth clenching and grinding.—
Mary Honkus,
Allure,
29 Apr. 2025
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Stop participating in bad habits that worsen the pain, such as nail biting, chewing on the lips or cheeks, or clenching or grinding your teeth.—
Angelica Bottaro,
Verywell Health,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles will be featured prominently during the 2025 NFL season.—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
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Scheffler, the world No. 1, and defending PGA champion Schauffele had plenty to say about mud balls on tee shots, particularly on the 16th hole that sent both to double bogey.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2025
Verb
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The result is partial solutions that rarely hold under pressure.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
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Particularly in less densely populated parts of America, plenty of government officials and citizens still hold a grudge over the way businesses and schools were temporarily shut down.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
17 May 2025
Verb
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Combs returns to the scene shortly thereafter and appears to grab at the phone.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
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Rutgers teammates Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey might end up as No. 2 and No. 3 overall, but the Hornets will be able to grab one if not.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
13 May 2025
Verb
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Instructors stood by to cheer and mentor participants.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2025
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To return the favor, Riho and her husband host weekly family dinners for their support crew as a way to give back to the people who have stood by them.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
18 May 2025
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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 24 May. 2025.
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