clings (to)

verb

present tense third-person singular of cling (to)
1
as in keeps (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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clutches
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 clings (to)
  1. stands by
  2. clutches
  3. defends
  4. grips
  5. clenches
  6. holds
  7. grabs
Verb
  • Acton stands by her decisions during the pandemic, but is betting that people in Ohio are ready to move on and instead focus on fixing problems like health care affordability and access.
    — Sarah Todd, STAT, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Lizzie’s father, meanwhile, stands by quietly as his wife berates both his daughter and the family maid, Margaret, at dinner that evening.
    — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of stands by
Verb
  • Anna practically clutches her pearls when asked to help the homeless.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
  • For years, Guerin has held onto his veteran core like a grandmother clutches her third-generation pearls.
    — Michael Russo, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of clutches
Verb
  • The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the country.
    — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Different views on the topic Hilton defends the ad as a humorous, provocative way to reach Californians who are dissatisfied with the state’s direction but might not ordinarily consider voting Republican.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of defends
Verb
  • The Mercyenforcer grips the handle of his light in his bare hand to look into my other eye.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
  • New Orleans is facing an unusual weather combination as Tropical Storm Bertha moves along the northern Gulf Coast while dangerous heat grips the region.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 22 July 2026
Definition of grips
Verb
  • As the comedy progresses, its buoyant tone clenches and darkens, and the plot bends and lurches, in ways that, to me, felt unnecessarily punitive toward both Haru and the audience.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2026
  • As the infection takes hold, a patient’s jaw clenches, forcing the face into what appears to be a wide smile, and the back muscles contort into a painful arch.
    — Mustafa Fattah, NBC news, 24 Dec. 2025
Definition of clenches
Verb
  • The bar makes a perfectly balanced drink, and brunch holds its own with plenty of light and rib-sticking options alike (the steak and eggs were my favorite) and strong locally roasted coffee (both pour-over and espresso options).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Brazil’s attorney general last week accused the US of undermining Brazilian democracy — a central theme for incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who holds a razor-thin polling lead over Flávio Bolsonaro.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of holds
Verb
  • Over the course of Next Gen NYC’s season, which ended this past week, the model Ava Dash grabs a slice of pizza on Fulton Street; strolls through the Seaport; and calls her father, the hip-hop mogul Damon Dash, from a bench at Pier 17.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Ryan opens it, grabs a Diet Coke and asks one of his assistants to summon a cup of ice.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of grabs
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.

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clings (to)
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Cite this Entry

“Clings (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clings%20%28to%29. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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