1
as in keeping (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 clenching
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 clinging (to)
Verb
-
For Red Sox fans, Worthington’s passing serves as a reminder of a unique baseball figure whose career connected multiple historic franchises, a World Series championship, and a reputation for standing by his principles throughout a Hall of Fame-caliber baseball life.
-
The judge who presided over the high-profile murder trial of Karmelo Anthony is standing by one of the case's most controversial decisions, saying keeping cameras out of the courtroom was necessary to ensure a fair trial.
Verb
-
While not everyone experiences such dramatic effects, experts say stress, clenching and even past trauma can contribute to TMJ issues.
-
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.
Verb
-
The defending Western Conference champs pick up Quaintance, a defensive-minded bruiser with size and athleticism who projects to be a center or power forward on the next level.
-
When the odds opened for the upcoming title fight, the defending champ was a -300 favorite over the +250 challenger.
Verb
-
The hosts discuss Sorsby as a product of both his own mistakes and opportunistic pearl clutching among college sports leaders.
-
Scotland’s Tartan Army, thousands strong in kilts and clutching replicas of the gold World Cup Trophy, marched into Miami ahead of Wednesday evening’s World Cup game against Brazil at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Verb
-
The current leadership uncertainty gripping the ruling Labour Party is arguably just the latest iteration of the turmoil that Brexit inserted into the heart of British politics.
-
The velvet coating does a better job of gripping slippery fabrics and delicate garments than plastic or metal alternatives.
Verb
-
After holding the majors’ worst record for much of the current season, the Angels are tied for last in the AL standings at 34-48 heading into their game against the Athletics on Friday night at Angel Stadium.
-
According to Atwal, the Gartner analyst, the rising costs could lead to consumers holding onto their devices longer, leading to fundamental changes to upgrade cycles for products such as smartphones.
Verb
-
The video then shows the woman throwing Martinez to the ground, grabbing her by the hair and repeatedly attacking her as bystanders try to step in and help.
-
According to Sangrio, the video appears to show Matthew Cox, O'Toole's then-attendant, striking the 60-year-old with a broom, punching him and grabbing him by the neck.
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.
Cite this Entry
“Clinging (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinging%20%28to%29. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
