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
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No matter which way the wind blows, Morgan Wallen is standing by his decision.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 June 2026 -
The Hurricane Hunter fleet is standing by to be deployed this season if any storms approach the United States.—
Scott Withers,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
Verb
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While not everyone experiences such dramatic effects, experts say stress, clenching and even past trauma can contribute to TMJ issues.—
Nicole Bennett,
AJC.com,
22 May 2026
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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.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
16 May 2026
Verb
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The park is also home to the Groton Monument, which is dedicated to the American soldiers who died while defending the fort.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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At that point, Brazil—the defending champions who would go on to win the tournament—leads 2-1 on a pair of goals by Garrincha.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Seconds later, the same officer — now with his gun holstered — is captured on the camera crouching and clutching his left shoulder in pain.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
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Erica Sims, an attendee from Missouri, told me, clutching her tote as though that right was tucked inside it.—
Elaine Godfrey,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
Verb
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The strapless neckline stays in place thanks to the elastic gripping tape along the bust.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
3 June 2026
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Footage released by Xinhua shows humanoid robots gripping parcels from containers and placing them onto sorting lines, while autonomous forklifts transport loads through the warehouse floor.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
30 May 2026
Verb
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London's Serpentine Gallery is currently holding his first exhibition there, which was conceived in close collaboration with the artist and showcases new paintings by him.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
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But through four games, with the Knicks holding a commanding 3-1 series lead, Wembanyama has done little to justify the hype.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
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The suspects asked if Apple Pay was accepted before grabbing a box of cash.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
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Jose Alvarado also got physical in Game 4, grabbing one of Wembanyama's legs during a hard foul.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 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 15 Jun. 2026.
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