1
as in kept (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 clenched
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 clung (to)
Verb
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Lalay, a 15-foot crocodile, was not amused and spent half an hour thrashing around with the man’s leg clenched in her teeth, until the park owner clocked her over the head with a block of concrete to get her to let go.—
Kassondra Cloos,
Outside,
10 Sep. 2025 -
And then there’s Eros, also known as Cupid, who flies away with his little buttocks clenched at the least hint of a rational process.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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According to The Cut, Tami also impersonated Kendra for her last Halloween party, dressing as a scarecrow in a prison jumpsuit paired with a mask of her mugshot and phones clutched in its hands.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Zarutska clutched her throat and collapsed.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As a lead disappeared, a normally calm and collected Stafford gripped his blue and gold helmet and spiked it into the turf at Nissan Stadium.—
Nate Atkins,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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International headlines often paint Haiti as a nation gripped by crisis — from political unrest and economic hardship to uncertainty about the future and unruly crime.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The organization has defended its dynamic pricing strategy, part of a plan to generate $3 billion in ticket sales next year, arguing that the money funds the sport around the world.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Over his career, Inoue won and defended the WBO junior bantamweight title seven times before moving to bantamweight for nine bouts.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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One partygoer grabbed a fragrance and practically bathed in the smokey orange accords of Rendez-Vous Ivory.—
Essence,
Essence,
12 Sep. 2025
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Natalia’s story grabbed the attention of the public in 2019 when Indiana prosecutors leveled charges against the Barnetts for allegedly neglecting a dependent.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The White House has stood by its decision while increasing military deployments in the Caribbean.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
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In the wake of Natalia’s legal battle with the Barnetts and the subsequent media attention, Cynthia and Antwon have stood by her.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Clung (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clung%20%28to%29. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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