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
Relevance
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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State and federal investigators returned Tuesday to a North Texas home at the center of the disappearance of a 6-year-old boy, digging up parts of the backyard as authorities pursue new leads in a case that has gripped the community for years.—
Amelia Mugavero,
CBS News,
13 May 2026 -
April’s inflation rate means prices are now rising faster than wages for the first time since 2023, which could aggravate the affordability crisis that has already been gripping consumers.—
Steve Kopack,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Knives are clutched, teeth are clenched, and a desperate Russian ex-pat yells loud enough for their long-dead ancestors to hear all the way back in the motherland.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
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Featuring live event faceoffs, an all-new batch of celebrity competitors and surprise guests, each episode delivers high-energy showdowns where skill, creativity, and clutch performance take center stage.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Verb
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The Beloved, his first film in Competition at Cannes, is an incredible achievement that builds on all those films and leaves them standing in the dust, hitting all the same tense throat-clenching beats but somehow transcending genre altogether.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
16 May 2026
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Tuanzebe—born in Bunia, raised in Rochdale—is sprinting toward the corner flag, fists clenched at his waist, triumphant.—
Franklin Leonard,
Vanity Fair,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Governor Gavin Newsom's office defended the framework, calling protests against Hernandez a cynical attempt to weaponize the debate.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
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The question is whether the student understands it well enough to defend it, adapt it and apply it when conditions change.—
Shannon McKeen,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
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At the time of the wedding, several of Collins and Green's guests shared photos of the newlyweds smiling and holding hands while celebrating their nuptials.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
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The Golden Knights carried play for much of the first period, but Dostal stood tall in net to hold the Ducks in it.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Denise ascended the stairs, yelling at Djena all the way up, then grabbed Djena by the collar and began hitting her.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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To make one, grab a clean, thick sock (preferably a larger one) and fill it with uncooked rice, oats, or flaxseed.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Still, crew chief Tony Brothers stands by his poor officiating.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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The two stayed friendly afterward, and Williams stood by Longet when tragedy and scandal struck a year later, in 1976.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 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 19 May. 2026.
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