CLEAVES Synonyms: 13 Similar and Opposite Words

cleaves

verb

present tense third-person singular of cleave

as in adheres

to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion you should resolutely cleave to the facts in your report

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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.

Recent Examples of cleaves Parents ship young children abroad; white-collar professionals become fast-food workers; migration cleaves young lovers. — Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026 Mantel cleaves instead to a felicitous simplicity, to constructions that achieve consonance with the period but stop short of mimicry. — Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026 Six oil and gas freighters were observed navigating on a route that cleaves close to Oman’s coast. — Weilun Soon, Fortune, 5 July 2026 As Otto groans, Rhaenrya pulls back and cleaves off Otto's head. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 29 June 2026 With a rock in a sock, Racine cleaves her own bloody swath down her father’s path, embracing her genetic destiny. — Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 15 May 2026 This enzyme cleaves the ester bonds in the neuronal portion of the back retina—the retinal pigment epithelium— to create a usable form of vitamin A, a molecule called 11-cis-retinal. — Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 4 May 2026 Altai Mountains, Mongolia Hunting with eagles on horseback is a tradition found in a region of Mongolia that cleaves close to Russia, China, and Kazakhstan. — Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2026 Where Hansen-Løve cleaves closely to her characters, Schanelec takes a step back, filming in long and middle distance shots. — Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 17 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleaves

Verb

Kiko Milano Eyeshadow Stick’s formula fortunately adheres perfectly to the lids.

— Laura Sandroni, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
Roll each dough ball in powdered sugar, rolling between your palms so that sugar adheres.

— Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 17 July 2026

Definition of adheres

Verb

Sigurd’s departure only deepens this cynicism, which Livia clings to for 27 years — until the pair reconnect on the phone for a truly excruciating conversation.

— Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Eleanor, now sickly and desperate, clings to her husband completely unaware of his plans to leave her.

— Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of clings

Browse Nearby Words

cleavers

cleaves

cleaves (to)

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“Cleaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleaves. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of cleaves

verb

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