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
Belle is more outgoing and adventurous, while Chai was more clingy.
—
Ryan Brennan
march 4, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2026
While Robbie’s Cathy is spunky, stubborn, and independent, Elordi’s Heathcliff is brooding, desperate, and clingy.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 12 Feb. 2026
Naval warfare goes a bit clingy as Lockheed Martin unveils its robotic Lamprey Multi-Mission Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (MMAUV), which can hitch a ride on friendly ships or submarines by latching onto their hulls to conserve power.
—David Szondy
february 09, New Atlas, 9 Feb. 2026
This often came in the form of a clingy statement boot, including over-the-knee styles by brands like Vetements and Balenciaga.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clingy
Ryan Brennan
march 4, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2026
While Robbie’s Cathy is spunky, stubborn, and independent, Elordi’s Heathcliff is brooding, desperate, and clingy.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 12 Feb. 2026
Naval warfare goes a bit clingy as Lockheed Martin unveils its robotic Lamprey Multi-Mission Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (MMAUV), which can hitch a ride on friendly ships or submarines by latching onto their hulls to conserve power.
—David Szondy
february 09, New Atlas, 9 Feb. 2026
This often came in the form of a clingy statement boot, including over-the-knee styles by brands like Vetements and Balenciaga.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clingy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clingy
Adjective
-
Dripping glitter, shimmering adhesive crystals, dramatic slashes of eyeliner and smudges of eyeshadow—there was a playful, shifting experimentalism here, to signal the young characters’ changeability and ingenuity.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
-
While traditional wallpaper is meticulously pasted to a wall, peel-and-stick attaches quickly with an adhesive backing.—
Shagun Khare,
Martha Stewart,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
As the smell intensified, Lina crossed to the front door of her apartment, undid the lock, and yanked the sticky door open.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
On immediate application, the product comfortably clings to lips without feeling sticky or heavy.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clingy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clingy. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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