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

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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
  • To avoid these potentially destabilizing effects, military leaders will need to explain what the country stands to lose if the military devotes excess time, resources, and attention to domestic operations and fails to adhere carefully to the laws of war.
    — Risa Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The faulty cant rails appear to stem from inadequate glue used to adhere the components to the vehicle frame, which allegedly weakens after exposure to freezing temperatures.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of adhere
Verb
  • Peterson and 10 other employees eventually fled the area, clinging to plastic pipes from a semi-truck, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.
    — Charna Flam, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Delap has been a shining light for Ipswich this season, scoring 11 of their 30 Premier League goals to keep them clinging to their top-flight status with their fingertips.
    — Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of cling
Verb
  • Rhodes and Reigns had an epic fight, with Reigns sticking in it with the help of the Bloodline and Rhodes surviving purely based on his own toughness.
    — John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Keep Light Bulbs From Sticking Outdoor light bulbs can have a knack for sticking in the socket after long periods of time, leaving you with the task of trying to unscrew a stubborn bulb without breaking the glass.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025
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
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Cite this Entry

“Cleave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleave. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of cleave for Spanish Speakers

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