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
Relevance
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)
Verb
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Martin Short clutches his laptop walking onto set for Jimmy Kimmel Live!—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026 -
Mispelys Salazar clutches a stack of papers close to her chest as bristling wind gusts threaten to send them flying into the air.—
Catherine E. Shoichet,
CNN Money,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The race begins with a rigorous climb up a mountain on skis fitted with a special fabric skin that grips the snow as the athletes sprint uphill.—
Rob Marciano,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
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The community held a candlelight vigil to pray for Nancy Guthrie's safe return as the baffling case grips the nation.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
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Walter stands by his pledge, Dodgers president Stan Kasten said.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
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Daisy stands by, literally helpless.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Congress holds first hearing in 50 years on UFOs following reports of unexplained aerial phenomena by the military.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Cost-efficient energy and chemical production Researchers revealed that solar-power photocatalysis – turning sunlight into energy – holds promise for sustainable and cost-efficient energy and chemical production.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Tomislav Ivišić grabs a rebound against Houston in last weekend's Sweet 16.—
Greg Rosenstein,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
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After lowering the helicopter to the water's surface, a flight crew member grabs the dog and hauls the pet aboard.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For people living along the coast, sand also defends against intense storms and sea level rise fueled by climate change.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
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Prosecutor defends plea agreement Two men accused of firing shots after the 2024 Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory rally are still awaiting trial.—
Jack Harvel,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
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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 4 Apr. 2026.
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