as in adhesive
tending to adhere to objects upon contact
it took forever to clean up the clingy Styrofoam pellets that had been used as packing material for the lamp
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Recent Examples of clingy
On whale cams, clingy fish steal the show The marine scientist who recorded the accidental close-ups of the remoras’ high-speed whale surfing had placed suction-cup cameras on humpbacks during their annual migration from Antarctica to the waters off Australia’s Queensland state.
—
CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
His inability to make hard decisions or abstain from becoming a maudlin, clingy drunk had transformed me from his girlfriend and lover into his mother and disciplinarian.
—Julia Ioffe, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
The humorous update, which prompted a flood of amused comments from viewers, offers a relatable look at the challenges many dog owners face when training their pets to be alone—particularly with a clingy breed like a Bernese mountain dog.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
The thong cut keeps it invisible under clingy fabrics too.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clingy
CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
His inability to make hard decisions or abstain from becoming a maudlin, clingy drunk had transformed me from his girlfriend and lover into his mother and disciplinarian.
—Julia Ioffe, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
The humorous update, which prompted a flood of amused comments from viewers, offers a relatable look at the challenges many dog owners face when training their pets to be alone—particularly with a clingy breed like a Bernese mountain dog.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
The thong cut keeps it invisible under clingy fabrics too.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clingy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clingy
Adjective
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The adhesive residue can cause skipping.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
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Posts on Reddit and Facebook show some users needing to replace dozens of devices a year due to monitor malfunctions, adhesive issues with the sensors and accuracy problems.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Cramer said strong signs from forwarding holiday spending suggest inflation may remain sticky, setting up tension between a president eager to contain prices and consumers who have borne the brunt of inflation.—
Luke Fountain,
CNBC,
10 Jan. 2026
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To keep a tension rod from slipping, look for rods that have rubber stoppers on the ends or that come with sticky wall brackets.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clingy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clingy. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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