clung (to)

verb

Definition of clung (to)next
past tense of cling (to)
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

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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)
  1. defended
  2. clenched
  3. stood by
  4. clutched
  5. gripped
  6. held
  7. grabbed
Verb
  • For example, O’Donnell has staunchly defended Israel and condemned bigotry.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The secretary general of the nine-member electoral council, Nemrod Sanon visited North Miami this week and defended the changes to the electoral framework.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of defended
Verb
  • Parents rushing to a reunification center, hearts clenched with the hope of finding their children among the survivors.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
  • All of the grandeur and energy of Pollock’s looping brambles and cords are clenched in Krasner’s versions.
    — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of clenched
Verb
  • Sirianni stood by his decision on that sequence but regretted kicking the ball in play to Ameer Abdullah on the ensuing kickoff, after Abdullah’s 53-yard return in seven seconds set up Jacksonville’s game-winning kick.
    — Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Diddy’s team stood by The Breakfast Club‘s reporting and mentioned the statement given by the Bureau of Prisons mentioned above.
    — Angel Diaz, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of stood by
Verb
  • In a first round that portended a lengthy and bloody fight, the Dodgers clutched to a 1-0 lead after three innings with ace Tarik Skubal on the mound and Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski headed for the showers.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of clutched
Verb
  • On the microphone, his promos conveyed a no-nonsense intensity that equally gripped viewers.
    — Rudy Chinchilla, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Hundreds of mourners later gathered at Rehman Baba cemetery for mass funeral prayers as grief gripped the neighborhood and announcements echoed from mosque loudspeakers, urging residents to join in prayers for those killed.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 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 little girl would later tell officers that her brother grabbed the knife and threw it at her, the blade hitting her chest.
    — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Fitzgerald then allegedly grabbed her arm and tried to pull her toward him.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of grabbed
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.

Browse Nearby Words

clung
clung (to)
clunk
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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 21 Oct. 2026.

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