Synonyms of cling

cling 1 of 4

noun

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

• adhesion
• adherence
• bonding
• adhesiveness
• gluing
• attachment
• tenacity
• cohesion
• agglutination
• cementing
• clumping
• cohesiveness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loosening
• detachment
• unfixing
• unsticking

cling

2 of 4

verb (1)

ˈkliŋ 

as in to adhere

to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion

a dozen magnets clinging to the refrigerator

Synonyms & Similar Words

• adhere
• stick
• cleave
• glue
• hew
• bind
• unite
• fasten
• cohere
• fuse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fall
• loosen
• drop

cling (to)

3 of 4

verb (2)

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

• keep (to)
• stick (to or with)
• adhere (to)
• defend
• hold to
• hew (to)
• stand by
• live up to
• abide by
• accept
• cleave (to)
• follow
• cultivate
• support
• endorse
• adopt
• embrace
• enforce
• advocate
• confirm
• reinforce
• uphold
• back
• foster
• bolster
• heed
• cherish
• espouse
• champion
• buttress
• boost
• backstop

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• defect (from)
• take back
• abandon
• relinquish
• forsake
• recall
• surrender
• disagree (with)
• give up
• withdraw
• desert
• reconsider
• revoke
• spurn
• renounce
• retract
• refute
• disprove
• recant
• dispute
• deny
• negative
• abjure
• renege
• rebut
• contradict
• back down
• controvert
• negate
• back off
• repudiate
• abnegate
• disavow
• disown
• disclaim
• gainsay
• unsay
• backtrack

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

• grip
• clutch
• clench
• hold
• hold on to
• grab
• carry
• hang on to
• cradle
• take
• snap (up)
• latch (on or onto)
• trap
• handle
• capture
• hug
• snatch
• feel
• land
• grapple
• seize
• grasp
• hook
• catch
• nail
• clasp
• finger
• bag
• bear
• snare
• embrace
• corral
• paw
• nab
• collar

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• give
• hand
• drop
• turn over
• hand over
• render
• deliver
• yield
• relinquish
• release
• unclasp
• give up
• unhand
• hand out
• cede

clingy

4 of 4

adjective

ˈkliŋ-ē 

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

• adhesive
• sticky
• adherent
• tenacious
• gummy
• tacky
• glutinous
• viscous
• gluey
• gelatinous
• viscid
• syrupy
• gooey
• ropy
• pitchy
• tarry

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nonviscous
• nonadhesive

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb cling contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of cling are adhere, cleave, cohere, and stick. While all these words mean "to become closely attached," cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils.

clinging to a capsized boat

When can adhere be used instead of cling?

The words adhere and cling can be used in similar contexts, but adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together.

antibodies adhering to a virus

In what contexts can cleave take the place of cling?

While in some cases nearly identical to cling, cleave stresses strength of attachment.

the wet shirt cleaved to his back

When could cohere be used to replace cling?

While the synonyms cohere and cling are close in meaning, cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass.

eggs will make the mixture cohere

Where would stick be a reasonable alternative to cling?

In some situations, the words stick and cling are roughly equivalent. However, stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together.

couldn't get the label to stick

How does the verb cling contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of cling are adhere, cleave, cohere, and stick. While all these words mean "to become closely attached," cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils.

clinging to a capsized boat

When can adhere be used instead of cling?

The words adhere and cling can be used in similar contexts, but adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together.

antibodies adhering to a virus

In what contexts can cleave take the place of cling?

While in some cases nearly identical to cling, cleave stresses strength of attachment.

the wet shirt cleaved to his back

When could cohere be used to replace cling?

While the synonyms cohere and cling are close in meaning, cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass.

eggs will make the mixture cohere

Where would stick be a reasonable alternative to cling?

In some situations, the words stick and cling are roughly equivalent. However, stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together.

couldn't get the label to stick

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of cling

Noun

Even after multiple washes, sometimes that stubborn odor clings to the fabric, making the whole bed feel less than fresh. —Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026

Create banners, bumper stickers, pictures, decals and window clings with the library's vinyl printer and cutter. —Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Jan. 2026

Verb

An acrid musk of unfiltered Camels clung to everything. —Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026

The cake is finished cooking when a wooden pick comes out with moist bits clinging to it. —Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026

Adjective

While Robbie’s Cathy is spunky, stubborn, and independent, Elordi’s Heathcliff is brooding, desperate, and clingy. —Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 12 Feb. 2026

Naval warfare goes a bit clingy as Lockheed Martin unveils its robotic Lamprey Multi-Mission Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (MMAUV), which can hitch a ride on friendly ships or submarines by latching onto their hulls to conserve power. —David Szondy february 09, New Atlas, 9 Feb. 2026

Phrases Containing cling

• cling (to)