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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Lemann, like the talkative older ladies of her youth, clutches the motifs of her past like talismans.—
Brandy Jensen,
New Yorker,
8 Apr. 2026 -
Martin Short clutches his laptop walking onto set for Jimmy Kimmel Live!—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In one example, the robot grips a can sideways, a simple mistake that could lead to spills, showing that human-like understanding remains limited.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Apr. 2026
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Fast forward to today and those fears have materialized with dizzying speed as a historic oil and gas crisis sparked by the US and Israel’s war with Iran grips the world.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 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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Still, crew chief Tony Brothers stands by his poor officiating.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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Dickinson was surprised to hear it multiple times, but stands by the sentiment.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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His life is both ordinary and extraordinary, and the storytelling holds those seeming opposites in pleasing tension.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
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Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
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At one point, in one of the videos, Kyle Busch grabs his son’s shoulders affectionately.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
22 May 2026
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Flower sandals are one of those shoe styles that immediately grabs you.—
Rosana Lai,
Glamour,
22 May 2026
Verb
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The city attorney reviews and approves contracts and ordinances for legal compliance, defends the city against lawsuits, and brings civil lawsuits on behalf of the city.—
The Editorial Board,
Daily News,
20 May 2026
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But the Lakers would have been in a tough spot without Smart this season, a player who still defends multiple positions at a high level and has a knack for making critical plays on both ends.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
18 May 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 23 May. 2026.
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