COHERE Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'cohere' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of cohere are adhere , cleave , cling , and stick . While all these words mean "to become closely attached," cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass. // eggs will make the mixture cohere

Q: When can 'adhere' be used instead of 'cohere'?

While in some cases nearly identical to cohere , adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together. // antibodies adhering to a virus

Q: In what contexts can 'cleave' take the place of 'cohere'?

The meanings of cleave and cohere largely overlap; however, cleave stresses strength of attachment. // the wet shirt cleaved to his back

Q: When would 'cling' be a good substitute for 'cohere'?

The words cling and cohere can be used in similar contexts, but cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils. // clinging to a capsized boat

Q: When is it sensible to use 'stick' instead of 'cohere'?

In some situations, the words stick and cohere are roughly equivalent. However, stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together. // couldn't get the label to stick

cohere

verb

kō-ˈhir

Definition of cohere next

as in to coincide

to be in agreement on every point the account in his journal coheres with the official report of the battle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to cooperate

to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members beset by personal animosities, the people of the neighborhood could not cohere into an effective civic association

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb cohere contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of cohere are adhere, cleave, cling, and stick. While all these words mean "to become closely attached," cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass.

eggs will make the mixture cohere

When can adhere be used instead of cohere?

While in some cases nearly identical to cohere, adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together.

antibodies adhering to a virus

In what contexts can cleave take the place of cohere?

The meanings of cleave and cohere largely overlap; however, cleave stresses strength of attachment.

the wet shirt cleaved to his back

When would cling be a good substitute for cohere?

The words cling and cohere can be used in similar contexts, but cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils.

clinging to a capsized boat

When is it sensible to use stick instead of cohere?

In some situations, the words stick and cohere are roughly equivalent. However, stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together.

couldn't get the label to stick

Example Sentences

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 cohere These dimensions normally cohere in the speaker, which binds a person to their words. —

Deb Roy, The Atlantic, 15 Feb. 2026 But all that rising energy has to cohere into something, and once Kennedy and Bessette actually become a couple, the air goes out of the room. —

Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 12 Feb. 2026 The album’s maximalist approach, combining an array of live instruments, VSTs, and samplers, sometimes coheres into true jams. —

H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026 How does the world cohere and decohere at the same time? —

Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cohere

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cohere

Verb

The resort’s inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places coincided with its revival in the 1980s—a placard near the entrance provides a timeline of its entire history, which began in 1883.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
Children typically only wear diapers during a transitional phase that coincides with their development of speech and movement, their first forays into social engagement.

— Theo Belci, Artforum, 2 June 2026

Definition of coincide

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coheirs

cohere

cohered

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“Cohere.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cohere. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.

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Synonyms of cohere

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