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clings (to)

verb

present tense third-person singular of cling (to)
1
as in keeps (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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clutches
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 clings (to)
  1. stands by
  2. clutches
  3. defends
  4. grips
  5. clenches
  6. holds
  7. grabs
Verb
  • Lizzie’s father, meanwhile, stands by quietly as his wife berates both his daughter and the family maid, Margaret, at dinner that evening.
    — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Thus, its Midwest premiere — and the first production of it ever to be mounted by a North American dance company — doesn’t meddle much with the trope of a woman who stands by her (very) imperfect partner.
    — Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of stands by
Verb
  • Anna practically clutches her pearls when asked to help the homeless.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
  • For years, Guerin has held onto his veteran core like a grandmother clutches her third-generation pearls.
    — Michael Russo, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of clutches
Verb
  • What's particularly compelling in this book is how lyrically Rovelli still vehemently defends the power and promise of physics (and science in general).
    — Adam Frank, NPR, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The Athletic examines what makes this type of punch special and why Garcia, who defends his WBC welterweight title against Conor Benn this weekend, is equipped with one of the most potent weapons in the sport.
    — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of defends
Verb
  • The Mercyenforcer grips the handle of his light in his bare hand to look into my other eye.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
  • New Orleans is facing an unusual weather combination as Tropical Storm Bertha moves along the northern Gulf Coast while dangerous heat grips the region.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 22 July 2026
Definition of grips
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
Definition of clenches
Verb
  • The community decides whether the creator’s recommendation holds any weight.
    — Sergi Cerrato, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The episode begins by delving into how the Manhunter holds so much sway over the people of Rushville.
    — Joe Otterson, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of holds
Verb
  • Kind of like when a lady grabs a fella’s collar and pulls him in for a kiss, but violent.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Harrison, who’s clutching a Sapporo, grabs his friend’s drink and neatly pops the top off using his own bottle.
    — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of grabs
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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clings (to)
cling (to)
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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 22 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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