1
as in keeping up
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2
as in holding on
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanging on
Verb
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If your skin begins looking red or pink, your body may be having a hard time keeping up, a good indicator to take a break in the shade.—
Julia James,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026 -
For me, keeping up with bills was never a huge problem.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Amid all that, Varsity Blues — about a Texas high-school football team rebelling against its abusive coach and holding on to one last gasp of glory before graduation — got a little lost.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
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Also, Southern California visits Nebraska with both sides holding on for dear life.—
Jordan Mendoza,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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To make sure the recipes and processes are carefully repeated, Wright and Quick will be hanging around Big Q for a few weeks, helping Tolle.—
Jenna Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
24 Mar. 2026
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Nashville Predators Nashville traded away four players at the deadline, including Nick Blankenburg to Colorado, and yet is still hanging around in the wild-card race.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The ground beneath your feet may be carrying on a kind of conversation.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
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Marcos Acosta might seem like an unlikely character to be carrying on the two-century-long tradition of Western American art in Colorado.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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According to the sheriff's office, the dog was flown to a ballfield where more rescuers were waiting with blankets to dry off and warm up the goldendoodle, who is now safe and comfortable.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
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Seeing their faces plastered in and around their orange and blue locker room was a pinch-me moment for the Illini, who also had Final Four swag waiting for them at the team hotel.—
Ryan Baker,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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One risk of players sticking around for years as graduate student-athletes is that college sports might morph into something more like minor league sports, with seasoned players in their mid-20s (or older) occupying roster spots that would otherwise go to younger college students.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
25 Mar. 2026
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Malachi Smith is sticking around a little longer.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Hanging on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanging%20on. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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