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🦪 A sea crustacean 🪿 A wild goose 🦪 To get crusted 🧲 To cling closely
to barnacle

to barnacle

8.6
To stay close to a person or group to get an advantage
  • verb
  • /ˈbɑrnɪkəl/
  • Informal
translation icon : arrimarse a
  • He barnacled himself to the new manager, hoping to get a promotion.

Examples

  • She barnacled onto the project, eager to share in its success.

  • The reporter barnacled to the celebrity throughout the event, never missing a moment.

  • He barnacled himself to her side during the meeting.

  • Don't barnacle onto me just because you need help!

  • He barnacled himself to the influential executive, hoping to gain valuable connections.

  • The intern barnacled to her mentor, seeking advice on how to succeed in the company.

  • During the event, he barnacled to the keynote speaker, eager to gain insights from her experience.

Synonyms

to hang
vsto barnacle
∞ 2.7

To hold on tightly so you do not let go

keeps close mainly for advantage or support rather than mere survival
to cling
vsto barnacle
240 2.1

To hold on tightly to someone or something and not let go

does the same but often to get advantage or social support
to cling to
vsto barnacle
61 3.4

To hold tightly to someone or something because of fear, need, affection

is similar but usually aims to gain help or support rather than fear
to cleave
vsto barnacle
  • Literature
7 7.5

To stay very close to someone or something, often for support

attaches persistently to gain advantage or support rather than from loyalty

Antonyms

to release
∞ 1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

to detach
16 3.9

To take something off from what it is connected to

Compounds

acorn barnacle
7.4

A small cone-shaped shell animal that sticks to rocks between high and low tide

barnacle goose
  • UK
8.1

A small goose that breeds in the far north and flies south in winter

goose barnacle
  • Specialized
9.5

A small sea animal with a shell on a stalk that sticks to ships and driftwood

gooseneck barnacle
9.9

A sea animal with a long stalk that clings to rocks or boats

rock barnacle
7.9

A small sea animal with a hard shell that sticks to rocks between tides

How Clingy

to leech
  • Offensive
8 7.5
to barnacle
  • Informal
8.6
to cling
240 2.1
to stick
752 3.4

Surface Forms

barnacle infinitive
barnacled past
barnacled past participle
barnacling present participle
barnacles third person singular

Etymology

Barnacle used in a figurative sense comes from the sea animal — just as a barnacle 'clings' to a boat and will not let go, to barnacle someone is to cling to them closely to gain advantage.