Synonyms of clinging

clinging

verb

present participle of cling

as in adhering

to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion

a dozen magnets clinging to the refrigerator

Synonyms & Similar Words

• adhering
• sticking
• gluing
• cleaving
• hewing
• binding
• uniting
• fusing
• fastening
• cohering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• falling
• loosening
• dropping

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of clinging

Our world is changing rapidly, and we are torn between adaptation, and clinging to the status quo. — John Vaillant, Time, 8 Aug. 2026

Tears, clinging and nervousness are familiar scenes at kindergarten drop-off, and understanding kindergarten separation anxiety can make the difference between a bumpy morning and one that builds a child’s confidence. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Aug. 2026

The speedboat picked up the men clinging to the raft, and then bore down in my direction. — James D. Oxley, Outdoor Life, 5 Aug. 2026

So those stubbornly clinging to Assistant may still be able to use it a bit longer before the option disappears. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 2026

Since his siblings were crying with the same mournful expression, clinging to their father’s corpse, Shoichiro willed himself to cry too, and the tears came immediately. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Video of the rescue showed 16-year-old lifeguard Ryder Williams clinging to Nathaniel Rai as wave after wave crashed over them. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

The tests demonstrate the underlying sensing and healing mechanisms, not a finished skin ready to spend years clinging to a deep-sea robot. — New Atlas, 4 Aug. 2026

Three reached shore, but one man continued drifting downstream while clinging to a cooler. — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026