clings (to)

present tense third-person singular of cling (to)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for clings (to)
Verb
  • But Mamdani stands by his choices.
    Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 25 June 2026
  • Israel’s military stands by for renewal of combat Israel’s military issued a statement around the time that direct talks began.
    Victoria Eastwood, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • In the midst of handing the job over to his son, even as Diego is making a speech about water supplies, hygiene and education, Don Alejandro snatches it back to cheers, clutches his heart and dies.
    Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • In it, Marilyn clutches the pillow toward her, revealing her disarming fragility.
    Michael Soncin, Vanity Fair, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • Based on Harper Lee's seminal novel, the movie casts Gregory Peck as lawyer Atticus Finch, who in Depression-era Alabama defends a Black man wrongly accused of raping a young white woman.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • The administration defends its actions, including massive layoffs at government health agencies, as necessary to eliminate wasteful spending.
    Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • This Laura Geller hydrating primer creates a silky-smooth canvas that grips your foundation for all-day wear.
    Madeline Merinuk, PEOPLE, 20 June 2026
  • Together with slight pressure from your foot, the claw head and pedal penetrates soil, grips the weed, and pulls it straight out of the ground from its roots.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • As the comedy progresses, its buoyant tone clenches and darkens, and the plot bends and lurches, in ways that, to me, felt unnecessarily punitive toward both Haru and the audience.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2026
  • As the infection takes hold, a patient’s jaw clenches, forcing the face into what appears to be a wide smile, and the back muscles contort into a painful arch.
    Mustafa Fattah, NBC news, 24 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • The self-image of a predominantly Anglo civilization on the far side of the world—a distant, lucky country insulated from global conflict—no longer holds.
    Oscar Schwartz, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • Each carafe holds 35 ounces and features a narrow neck for easier pouring.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • What actually cuts through and grabs attention nowadays is humanity, clarity and credibility in messaging.
    Maureen Burke, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • When Martinez throws something back, the woman rushes toward her, throws her to the ground, grabs her by the hair and repeatedly attacks her as bystanders try to step in and help.
    Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 25 June 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.

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Cite this Entry

“Clings (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clings%20%28to%29. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

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