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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cling (to)

Verb

The Bills believe in Bernard and have described his 2025 season as an injury that derailed his entire year, though there were some run-defending holes in his game before last season.

— Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
The last episode ended with Heather sloppily approaching Lisa while Lisa’s Ultimate Girls Trip buddies hovered on the sidelines, ready to defend their new friend.

— Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of defend

Verb

The recent plunge has renewed the conversation around the literacy crisis gripping the nation's education system and the debate over COVID-19 school closures.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
For six weeks Lindsay Clancy’s trial gripped the nation, taking over newscasts, podcasts and social media chatter.

— Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 7 Sep. 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

Proportion play is also part of the equation, as Gap experiments with Mini sizes meant to be clutched in the palm of your hand or slung over your torso.

— Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026
Sweeney, 28, opted for a lace midi with a square neckline and flouncy sleeves, accessorizing with a black envelope clutch, a gold Cartier watch, and one of the jeweler’s iconic Love bangles.

— Hannah Malach, InStyle, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of clutch

Verb

He's been there with her, and still stands by her by way of his testimony.

— Mike Toole, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, has stood by the Pennsylvania senator as he's repeatedly clashed with his fellow Democrats on the Iran war and other major issues.

— Jay Stahl, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of stand by

Verb

This can lead women to clench their jaws or pelvic muscles, or grind their teeth.

— Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
Years ago, after Jake died, my instinct as a medical student was anger — clenching my teeth and jabbing a pen into my notepad, making a line of inky holes along the margin.

— Caroline Cherston, STAT, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of clench

Verb

Remember that your shotgun cannot be capable of holding more than two cartridges in the magazine, and three total.

— Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2026
Mike Jacobs brought 14 Mercer players to Toledo and held a fourth-quarter lead but lost 30-20 at Michigan State.

— Manny Navarro, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of hold

Verb

Running back If you’re not used to seeing the running back position here, grab a ticket and join the line.

— Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Just like the rest of us that day, most of the dead were just going about such ordinary tasks as showing up for work, grabbing a cup of coffee and traveling on a commercial jetliner, or just trying to lend a hand to people in trouble.

— Mike Kelly, USA Today, 7 Sep. 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

Style

“Cling (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cling%20%28to%29. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of cling (to)

verb

Example Sentences

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