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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The bank holds the underlying fiat fully reserved and does not lend or invest it.—
Boaz Sobrado,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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Opened in the ’80s and lovingly restored in recent years, the park still holds a timeless charm of bright lights, rides, and carousel music that carries into the night.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Next, Beth grabs her father's hat, perched on a stand next to the photograph.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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So, pay attention to what grabs your attention now, because the cosmos could be delivering a message through the most random interaction, TikTok scroll or overheard conversation.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Continue reading … STANDING FIRM — New York Times defends controversial anti-Israel piece, 'no truth' to retraction claims.—
,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
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In the present day, the twins get fired when Racine defends her sister at work.—
Jourdain Searles,
HollywoodReporter,
13 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 17 May. 2026.
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