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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The older woman clutches her top towel closer to her.—
Weike Wang,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Continue reading … ON THE RUN – Fear grips major US city as accused teen killer escapes in jail error.—
,
FOXNews.com,
26 Sep. 2025
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The latest such exchange – from a reader in Australia, too far for a pint – related to the looming fiscal catastrophe that uniquely grips most of the major G7 economies and China.—
Mike O'Sullivan,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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When the sky darkens, her stomach clenches.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
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In a similar way, a man who is defiant stiffens his neck, squares his shoulders, lowers his brows, and clenches his fists with his knuckles forward.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In a particularly poignant moment in the film, Jiang stands by the window at night and pretends to capture and punch the shadow of a security guard downstairs.—
Yangyang Cheng,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
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An armed law enforcement officer stands by as people (R) arrive for the public memorial service for right-wing activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on September 21, 2025.—
Amanda Castro
Mandy Taheri
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But Robbie, ever the scrappy guy, already sees through the naïve guise and holds the FBI Task Force agent at gun point.—
Grace Byron,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
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Excess water can wear down the glue that holds the bristles and handle together.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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When virtual particle pairs pop into existence at the edge of black holes, sometimes the black hole’s gravity grabs one partner while the other escapes.—
Dipangkar Dutta,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
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When Catalina goes into the kitchen to refill her calabash, Frances grabs the box of Thompson paperbacks and makes a run for Ray at the restaurant.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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According to data from the Casa del Encuentro, a civil organization that defends women’s rights, 164 women were killed in Argentina in the first eight months of 2025.—
Manuela Castro,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
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James Burling is vice president of legal affairs at Pacific Legal Foundation, a nonprofit legal organization that defends Americans’ individual liberty and constitutional rights.—
James Burling,
Oc Register,
25 Sep. 2025
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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 8 Oct. 2025.
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