clung (to)

Definition of clung (to)next
past tense of cling (to)
1
2

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for clung (to)
Verb
  • Bessent defended the administration’s lack of secondary tariffs on China in an interview with CNBC, saying India only ramped up its purchases after the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2025
  • The iconic fighter defended his son following his arrest, but has not spoken since the deportation.
    Fabiola Sanchez, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • An accompanying photograph shows Glimcher holding the viewer’s gaze, his right hand outstretched on the desk, clenched in a tight fist.
    Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 4 June 2026
  • Tuanzebe—born in Bunia, raised in Rochdale—is sprinting toward the corner flag, fists clenched at his waist, triumphant.
    Franklin Leonard, Vanity Fair, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • Collins stood by Phillips, before finally cutting ties in May over an inflammatory social media post targeting a staffer in Dooley’s campaign.
    Shannon McCaffrey, AJC.com, 10 June 2026
  • Last week, Democratic leaders largely stood by Platner, as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated the party would continue to back him.
    Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • Carter Jensen clutched a pack of baseball cards in his hand, carefully picking up the top one, looking at it, placing it aside and then repeating the process.
    Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 8 June 2026
  • The bride clutched a casual bouquet of yellow and white cut flowers.
    Kim Willis, USA Today, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • Another gripped a yellow stress ball throughout his testimony.
    Stepheny Price , Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026
  • The Murder of Rachel Nickell has viewers gripped.
    Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
  • Ogwumike, who spent the past two seasons in Seattle, also grabbed nine rebounds to move into fourth on the WNBA career list, passing Rebekkah Brunson.
    Daily News, Daily News, 11 June 2026
  • Cameron Brink added 15 points off the bench and Dearica Hamby grabbed 10 rebounds for the Sparks (6-6) in the Commissioner’s Cup game.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clung (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clung%20%28to%29. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster