CLING (TO) Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

cling (to)

verb

Definition of cling (to)

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for cling (to)

Verb

And with Brown, VJ Edgecombe and Dean Wade on the roster, James would also be insulated from defending on the perimeter at a high volume.

— Tony Jones, New York Times, 14 July 2026
The defending champions made Kansas City their base camp for the tournament as the team began its quest to become back to back champions for the first time since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

— PJ Green July 13, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026

Definition of defend

Verb

Alexander, who signed a two-way deal with Utah last week, made contact with the Bulls' Caleb Wilson while driving toward the basket and, after tossing the ball toward the hoop, went behind the basket clutching his side or abdomen.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
In others, background actors adjust their chain mail and faux furs and clutch prop weapons, some of which are designed to explode and splatter blood on impact.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 July 2026

Definition of clutch

Verb

At the final whistle, Mbappe clenched his fists and appeared to look the other way as Paraguay’s goalkeeper Orlando Gill sought a handshake.

— Adam Crafton, New York Times, 5 July 2026
The White House Key Facts A rendering of the passport shared by the White House on Friday shows Trump presumably leaning over the Resolute Desk, fists clenched, alongside his signature and text from the Declaration of Independence.

— Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

Definition of clench

Verb

Adjacent to the tent, a small green building holds this year’s newest cannabis display and awards category, homegrown cultivation.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 19 July 2026
That said, France were favourites in the last final and Argentina beat them, albeit by the finest of margins, recovering from the shock of Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick before holding their nerve to win the penalty shootout.

— Oliver Kay, New York Times, 19 July 2026

Definition of hold

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clings (to)

cling (to)

clingy

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“Cling (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cling%20%28to%29. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of cling (to)

verb

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