clingier; clingiest
: having the quality of clinging to someone or something: such as
a
: tending to adhere to a surface upon contact
a clingy plastic wrap
clingy fabrics/clothes
In her clingiest [=tightest-fitting] dress she swings into town and soon has the men howling.—
Peter Travers
Peter Travers
b
: tending to stay very close to someone (such as a parent) for emotional support, protection, etc.
a clingy child
Some kids act out or become whiny to get a parent's attention; others become clingy or fearful.—Leah Hennen
Leah Hennen
clinginess
noun
disliked the fabric's clinginess
Any number of women I interviewed cited clinginess in a boyfriend as a major deal breaker.
—Liza Mundy
Liza Mundy
Examples of clingy in a Sentence
it took forever to clean up the clingy Styrofoam pellets that had been used as packing material for the lamp
Recent Examples on the Web
The piece featured a racerback design, jacquard pattern, and clingy pencil skirt.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
Her lyrics declared independence from clingy lovers and assorted social expectations, often through analogies inspired by technology.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
The proof is in their clingy jerseys.
—Payton Titus, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Mar. 2026
Belle is more outgoing and adventurous, while Chai was more clingy.
—Ryan Brennan
march 4, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clingy
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Christina Perrier, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
Her lyrics declared independence from clingy lovers and assorted social expectations, often through analogies inspired by technology.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
The proof is in their clingy jerseys.
—Payton Titus, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Mar. 2026
Belle is more outgoing and adventurous, while Chai was more clingy.
—Ryan Brennan
march 4, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clingy
Cite this Entry
“Clingy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clingy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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