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
  • This volume captures now-legendary stands by the likes of Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Elvin Jones and Bill Evans.
    — Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Holmes denies having said it, and the remark isn’t on the couple’s own recordings of the interviews in question, but, to their dismay, the article’s editor, after reviewing the journalist’s notes, stands by the reporting.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of stands by
Verb
  • The doctor wears a Star of David necklace and, in a pivotal scene in the show’s first season, clutches it while reciting the Shema, a central Jewish prayer, during an emotional crisis.
    — Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Anna practically clutches her pearls when asked to help the homeless.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of clutches
Verb
  • Continue reading … FACING SCRUTINY — Anthropic CEO defends record on safety, sales to China.
    — , FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Saturday is supposed to be a reward for another week of work, which is why Freeman so fiercely defends the right to celebrate all Notre Dame’s wins.
    — Pete Sampson, New York Times, 11 Oct. 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
  • There is a build up of dust on the chain that holds the cup dispenser suspended above the ice cream station.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • One other consideration was the Dream’s primary home, Gateway Center Arena in College Park, which holds about 3,500.
    — Rod Beard, AJC.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of holds
Verb
  • If anyone who is hired to MC one of the largest events in golf grabs a microphone and joins in on ‘f you’ chants directed at a player in the event you're being paid to be a part of, that person is undoubtedly being fired, regardless of gender.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The suspect runs inside, grabs rolls of lottery tickets, stuffs them into a bag and runs out.
    — Tara Lynch, CBS News, 14 Oct. 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
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 28 Oct. 2026.

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