CLINGING Synonyms: 14 Similar and Opposite Words

clinging

verb

present participle of cling

as in adhering

to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion a dozen magnets clinging to the refrigerator

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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 clinging Less than four hours earlier just four blocks away, a 22-year-old man was left clinging to life when he was shot in the neck. — John Annese, New York Daily News, 28 June 2026 Five children in their nightclothes were clinging together in defiance, struggling not to scream and cry. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 June 2026 Its relaxed silhouette helps prevent fabric from clinging to your skin, while the lightweight construction feels light throughout the day. — Aashna Gheewalla, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026 The terrain is rocky, with vineyards clinging to steep limestone slopes, simultaneously warmed by the sun and cooled by salty Adriatic breezes. — Tia Lovisa Moreira, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026 For three decades, Pixar has continued adding shades to the same plot outline like a child with a box of 128 crayons (or a company clinging to its billion-dollar idea). — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026 But now, entry-level professionals are clinging to their childhood bedrooms and pillaging their family fridges as more are extending their stay than ever before. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 22 June 2026 Traditionalism, or clinging to it, is already a political category. — Merve Emre, New Yorker, 28 June 2026 Brands that embrace these principles, like Coleman and Kraft, can turn challenges into opportunities for building trust and loyalty, while those clinging to outdated playbooks risk losing control of their narrative entirely. — Edward Segal, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinging

Verb

Decorating rules can be helpful guidelines, but adhering too strictly to conventional wisdom can seriously cramp your style.

— Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 23 June 2026
Owners with at least 25 vehicles can get the special stickers and skip adhering registration tags on the plates each year, as the rest of us have to.

— Jim Radcliffe, Oc Register, 29 May 2026

Definition of adhering

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cling

clinging

clinging (to)

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“Clinging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinging. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of clinging

verb

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