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The Latin verb haerēre has shown remarkable stick-to-itiveness in influencing the English lexicon, which is fitting for a word that means "to be closely attached; to stick." Among its descendants are adhere (literally meaning "to stick"), adhere’s relative adhesive (a word for sticky substances), inhere (meaning "to belong by nature or habit"), and even hesitate (which implies remaining stuck in place before taking action). In Latin, haerēre teamed up with the prefix co- to form cohaerēre, which means "to stick together." Cohaerēre is the ancestor of cohesive, a word borrowed into English in the early 18th century to describe something that sticks together literally (such as dough or mud) or figuratively (such as a society or sports team).
Examples of cohesive in a Sentence
Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
The most effective portfolios go beyond aesthetics, presenting a cohesive identity that highlights an artist's unique value.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
The artists behind the Trader Joe’s brand have created cohesive, magical visuals throughout the stores' interiors—and that’s what Averbach’s new book is all about.
—Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Mar. 2025
The vignettes are bound together by Sriram’s cohesive vision for her world, presented in hazy 16 mm.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cohesive
Cite this Entry
“Cohesive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cohesive. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
cohesive
adjective
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