CLUNG (TO) Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

clung (to)

verb

Definition of clung (to)

past tense of cling (to)

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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for clung (to)

Verb

Coryell also denied Qualls’ claim and defended Rankin in a statement.

— Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Rees-Mogg defended Britain’s decision to enter the war, arguing that the country’s victory over Nazi Germany preserved its sovereignty and prevented Hitler from continuing to expand across Europe.

— Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of defended

Verb

As the recording played, with Davis recounting seeing the ambulance that was carrying the rapper, Shakur’s sister clenched her left hand against her mouth.

— Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Clad in the world champion’s rainbows, Evenepoel clenched both his fists, beamed a toothy grin, and hugged his soigneur.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of clenched

Verb

Allan Hancock College spokesperson Lauren Milbourne said Wednesday afternoon that the college stood by its initial statement of the incident, which said the detainment took place in Parking Lot 2 of the campus.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Goldman stood by FedEx into earnings, reiterating its buy rating and raising its price target to $390 from $375.

— Jim Cramer, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of stood by

Verb

While in front of a judge, Siders, dressed in an orange jumpsuit, kept shielding her stomach and clutched her belly, The Daily Mail reported.

— Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2026
Groups of screaming preschoolers pass by us in the park, fists clutched tight onto their walking ropes, chubby hands waving hello or pointing to squirrels scampering in their path.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of clutched

Verb

Many of the beautiful, sometimes ingenious products and technologies developed with the rise of the modern era gripped the popular imagination and made life easier, healthier and more connected.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Others gripped plastic cups of golden beer and paper cups of Yorkshire tea.

— Vanda Mayer, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of gripped

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

Definition of held

Verb

The store owner grabbed a gun and fired, sending the group fleeing empty-handed, according to FOX13 Seattle.

— Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Protesters grabbed metal barriers blocking off the street and charged a row of cops before the officers were able to pull the barriers away from them.

— Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of grabbed

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clung

clung (to)

clunk

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

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Synonyms of clung (to)

verb

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