clung (to)

Definition of clung (to)next
past tense of cling (to)
1
2
See the Dictionary Definition 

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for clung (to)
Verb
  • Participants alternately clenched their toes (rock), spread them apart (paper) and crossed the big toe over the others (scissors).
    Lindsey Leake, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026
  • May watched, jaw clenched, arms crossed, eyes glassy.
    Justin Williams, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Parents clutched their children closer.
    Amy Driscoll, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026
  • Flowers surrounded the baby girl's tiny casket inside the Lawrence Woodward Funeral Home in Crown Heights, as family members clutched each other and said their final goodbyes.
    Naveen Dhaliwal, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • His hand gripped the side bar of an umbrella stroller that had a toddler kicking her legs up, dressed in daisy-print overalls.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
  • After jubilation gripped the players against Everton, Nuno walked on the field to congratulate Wilson.
    Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 1 May 2026
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
Verb
  • Putin has defended the restrictions as necessary for public safety.
    Zahra Ullah, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
  • Trump has defended the gift as a way to save tax dollars.
    Jonathan J. Cooper, Fortune, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • Investigators later learned Hissom and her male passenger, who was wounded, were caught in a crossfire as a group of four or five men grabbed weapons from a vehicle and began firing at each other.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Aristide then allegedly charged at his brother, grabbed him by the neck and forced him to the ground, according to the report.
    Mauricio Maldonado, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Persons-Mulicka stood by House Speaker Daniel Perez’s side at a morning news conference and answered most redistricting questions for him.
    Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Throughout Peterson's legal troubles and accusations, the girls believed in his innocence and stood by his side.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
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

Cite this Entry

“Clung (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clung%20%28to%29. Accessed 5 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster