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
-
Protect against teeth grinding, clenching and enamel damage with custom dental solutions from ClearClub.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026 -
Melvin Council stood amid a crowd of his Kansas teammates, clenching a black belt in his fist.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Such desperate attempts at grandiosity evoke empty vanity, clutching at physical monuments to prove a greatness that history has not yet conferred.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The actress posed in a field of flowers while clutching her bare chest.—
Sarah Sotoodeh,
FOXNews.com,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At the end of the arm is a gripper that can apply up to 170 newtons (38 pound-force) of gripping force.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Gang violence gripping Port-au-Prince disrupts aid delivery and goods transportation, leaving families in the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country with impossible survival choices as the economy contracts for the seventh year.—
Evens Sanon,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Moore spoke briefly in court, thanking his wife for standing by him but not saying anything about Shiver.—
Larry Lage,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
-
How exactly could the Heat justify standing by a group that lost 10 in a row, was repeatedly blown out at home and was swept out of the playoffs by the largest margin in NBA history (122 points)?—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Three San Diego police officers who fatally shot a man holding what appeared to be a real gun during a 2022 standoff have been cleared of any criminal liability, the California Department of Justice said Friday, but state investigators recommended a few policy changes for the department.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
-
The truce appeared to be largely holding overnight.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
One person in a Gerrit Cole jersey threw a nasty right hook after grabbing someone from behind.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Former Mayor Bill de Blasio similarly drew ridicule when he was caught using a knife and fork to eat pizza instead of grabbing the slice with his hands like any real New Yorker paisano would.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Dream will open the 2026 season at home on May 17 against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Jack Nicklaus missed the cut in 1967 as the two-time defending champion.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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 21 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
