as in adhesion
a physical sticking to as if by glue
for certain types of materials that plastic wrap has very little cling
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
as in adhesive
tending to adhere to objects upon contact
it took forever to clean up the clingy Styrofoam pellets that had been used as packing material for the lamp
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of cling
Bassel F. Salloukh, Foreign Affairs, 14 July 2014
Something stretchy like nylon or cling wrap would be much better.
—Patrick Mercier, IEEE Spectrum, 18 June 2020
Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 20 May 2025
The Herald interviewed three eyewitnesses who said Pino was dazed and clinging to the hull of his overturned boat.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 20 May 2025
Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
After a dip in the pool or ocean, wet fabric can feel heavy and clingy, so materials like polyester, nylon, or lightweight cotton blends are ideal fabrics for drying fast and keeping you comfortable.
—Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cling
Noun
Indeed, this year could mark the birth of a new regional order, one that dismisses the all-too-realist geopolitical contests of the past and clings, instead, to sectarianism.
—Bassel F. Salloukh, Foreign Affairs, 14 July 2014
Something stretchy like nylon or cling wrap would be much better.
—Patrick Mercier, IEEE Spectrum, 18 June 2020
Verb
Williams’ signature play happened in the 2001 Red River Rivalry game with Texas pinned deep near its goal with two minutes remaining and OU clinging to a 7-3 lead.
—Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 20 May 2025
The Herald interviewed three eyewitnesses who said Pino was dazed and clinging to the hull of his overturned boat.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 20 May 2025
Adjective
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are a big contributor to the clingy smell that lingers long after the fire has died down.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
After a dip in the pool or ocean, wet fabric can feel heavy and clingy, so materials like polyester, nylon, or lightweight cotton blends are ideal fabrics for drying fast and keeping you comfortable.
—Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cling
Noun
-
This movement is inspired by how tiny insects walk on water, using adhesion forces that dominate at such small scales.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2025
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Moreover, integrin β1 is seen to strengthen cell-substrate adhesions in fibroblasts, potentially offering an explanation for the thicker stress fibers seen in older cells.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Old First Aid Supplies Technically, bandages don’t sport an expiration date, but over time, their adhesive parts can dry out and lose their stickiness.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 May 2025
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There is a significant opportunity to break that cycle by leveraging robotic assembly, digital adhesive technology, and automation to build a smarter, cleaner system from the ground up.—
Cam Myers,
Sourcing Journal,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Elizabeth had maintained a decade of careful adherence to her HIV treatment, but the couple still struggled with consistent condom use.—
Kathryn Rhine,
The Conversation,
19 May 2025
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Resistance training adherence has always been reliant on access to the right equipment.—
Matt Parrott,
Arkansas Online,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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The reviews and social conversation were becoming apparent that this had inserted itself into the culture in a really sticky way.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2025
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As the Southern heat creeps up more and more, putting together an outfit that’s stylish but doesn’t leave you drenched in sweat or sticky from humidity can be a challenge.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
21 May 2025
Noun
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No spoilers, no summaries, and no shortcuts — just real conversations and a genuine love of learning and bonding.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
19 May 2025
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Shared creative flow fosters faster bonding than small talk.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cling. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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