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
-
Wole faced fixedly forward, both fists clenching the steering wheel.—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Written by Zach Kanin and directed by Alice Mathias, the commercial featured an emotional farewell that took a darkly comedic turn when Chazmo’s attempt to return home went hilariously wrong — all while clutching a bag of Totino’s Pizza Rolls.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
-
While students were heading back to class, McClure Middle School teacher Valerie Hodge noticed Dalton Tomberlain clutching his throat.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
During the ceremony, the politics of the moment were not ignored, with several award winners using the stage to speak out against the aggressive immigration enforcement that’s gripping the country.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Reyes worries the winter storm gripping North Texas will have serious consequences for her finances.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Despite asking for a pause, Collins is still standing by her stance to fund the DHS in a six-bill appropriations package up for consideration this week in the Senate.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Crawford said the lying in wait allegations could not be proved because his client was just standing by a gate when the attack happened.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Judges have criticized them for holding immigrants without bond, deporting them without hearings, and now, forcing their way into private homes without a warrant signed by a judge.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
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Surveillance footage from outside the store shows the deputy pinning Graham to the ground and holding him by the neck with his legs as Graham continued to fight back.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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SpaceX was also famously involved in funding and operating the headline-grabbing Polaris Dawn crewed commercial mission in September 2024.—
Eric Lagatta,
AZCentral.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Rene Arturo Lujan, 43, admitted to grabbing two girls on June 18 and June 20, 2024, leading to his arrest roughly two hours after the second kidnapping attempt.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Newcastle face the toughest task, playing defending European champions PSG in Paris knowing even a win won’t guarantee them a top-eight spot because of goal difference potentially coming into play.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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But Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has refused to budge, defending blue slips as a core component of the Senate’s constitutional role in providing advice and consent.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Clinging (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinging%20%28to%29. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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