cleave

verb

ˈklēv How to pronounce cleave (audio)
Definition of cleavenext
as in to adhere
to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion you should resolutely cleave to the facts in your report

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb cleave contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of cleave are adhere, cling, cohere, and stick. While all these words mean "to become closely attached," cleave stresses strength of attachment.

the wet shirt cleaved to his back

When might adhere be a better fit than cleave?

The words adhere and cleave can be used in similar contexts, but adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together.

antibodies adhering to a virus

When is it sensible to use cling instead of cleave?

The meanings of cling and cleave largely overlap; however, cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils.

clinging to a capsized boat

When could cohere be used to replace cleave?

The words cohere and cleave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass.

eggs will make the mixture cohere

Where would stick be a reasonable alternative to cleave?

While in some cases nearly identical to cleave, stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together.

couldn't get the label to stick

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleave
  1. adhere
  2. cling
  3. stick
Verb
  • Add the remaining toast slices, pressing gently to adhere.
    — Midwest Living, Midwest Living, 15 May 2026
  • But for the Christmas-week slate, when six of the 16 games were distributed via a premium platform, the league adheres closely to that 87% free model.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 11 May 2026
Definition of adhere
Verb
  • Many Democrats, spooked by the prospect of their party being frozen out in June’s top-two primary, have been clinging to their ballots, intending to vote at the last moment for whichever Democrat appears likeliest to finish first.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
  • The faux-wrap neckline stays secure while chasing after the kids, while the flowy A-line silhouette doesn’t cling to the body.
    — Aashna Gheewalla, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Definition of cling
Verb
  • The Frenchman is a front-footed middle man who gets stuck into tackles, is relatively press-resistant and will often resort to dribbling to get out of tight spots.
    — Gregg Evans, New York Times, 13 May 2026
  • But with mortgage rates appearing to be stuck at an elevated level now, the value of this strategy has grown in recent months.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Definition of stick
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

cleavages
cleave
cleaved
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Cleave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleave. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on cleave

Nglish: Translation of cleave for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of lacuna

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Regarding the Incorrect Use of 'Decimate'

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Financial Words With Surprising Origins

Strange Words for Body Functions

Where does 'curiosity killed the cat' come from?

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

9 Financial Words With Surprising Origins

Strange Words for Body Functions
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
roulette-wheel-thirteen
13-Letter Word Quiz Thirteen words, thirteen letters each. It’s you...
See All