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
-
May watched, jaw clenched, arms crossed, eyes glassy.—
Justin Williams,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026 -
Among many Niger Deltans, there’s a mixture of ignorance, nonchalance, and clenched resignation around the industry’s environmental dangers, which take a back seat as folks get on with the business of everyday survival.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Elliot Cadeau came rushing over to his mom after the game, a fistful of maize-and-blue confetti clutched tight in his hand.—
Justin Williams,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
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One woman clutched her young, smiling child with a look of pure horror on her face.—
Megan Armstrong,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Investors were suddenly gripped with the fear that AI would annihilate software companies of every kind.—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
12 Apr. 2026
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On the witness stand, Shandelle thrust her head back, demonstrating how Braddy’s hands gripped her throat.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
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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Jamahl Mosley‘s group successfully shared the ball by dishing out 33 assists and defended at a high level in spurts by scoring 28 points off 20 takeaways.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
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Months after its withering box-office performance, Costner defended his position.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The officer grabbed me and said 'you're arrested,' and just put me in handcuffs and drug and dragged me out.—
Mahsa Saeidi,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Much of the film feels like Cronin grabbed a bunch of different clothes off a rack at a clothing store only to end up wearing a bizarrely mismatched outfit that never really comes together.—
Gregory Nussen,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In an interview with CBS News Texas earlier this week, West stood by his decision and acknowledged some in the party were very unhappy.—
Jack Fink,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Chappelle has had a long professional relationship with Netflix, which has stood by him through ongoing controversy involving his trans jokes.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
15 Apr. 2026
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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 19 Apr. 2026.
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