to cleave

Examples

• All

• In social terms, people tend to cleave to their own.

  Academic text (2009)

• "Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh."

  Blog text (12)

• Engineering managers cleave to a set of product requirements.

  Academic text (2005)

• I was given a Hebrew name to cleave unto the land.

  Fiction book (1994)

• So my point about this whole issue of identity is there is nothing wrong with cleaving to an identity and regarding it as important.

  Triggernometry

• We want people who are going to stick with the truth and cleave to that good so that they can make the right choices throughout the course of their life.

• She, she cleaves to and becomes faithful to Sylvie, her aunt, in place of her own mother.

• He promised to cleave to his values and never compromise on his principles.

• In difficult times, it is important to cleave to those who support you.

• The child learned to cleave to his mother for comfort during the storm.

Synonyms

S

to stick

vsto cleave

∞ 3.5

To stay loyal to someone or a group

is narrower, stressing close and faithful attachment rather than general persistence

S

to stick with

vsto cleave

341 3.6

Keep doing or supporting something even when it is difficult

emphasizes personal loyalty rather than merely maintaining a position

C

to cling

vsto cleave

240 2.1

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

is similar but focuses more on lasting loyalty than tight grip

H

to hold onto

vsto cleave

180 3.0

To keep something and not let it go

focuses more on lasting attachment or faithfulness than just gripping

H

to hold on

vsto cleave

141 2.0

To keep a strong grip on something so it does not fall

covers longer term attachment or staying loyal beyond immediate grip

C

to cling to

vsto cleave

61 3.4

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

is broader, covering steady loyalty as well as physical holding

S

to stick by

vsto cleave

• Informal

47 3.6

To stay with and support someone in hard times

is similar but covers both physical closeness and faithful support

S

to stick to

vsto cleave

41 1.8

Stay attached to a surface

extends the idea to people and loyalty rather than only physical sticking

H

to hold to

vsto cleave

25 3.5

To stay loyal to a promise, plan or belief

is more general, also including physical attachment or personal loyalty

A

to adhere

vsto cleave

17 5.2

To stick firmly to a surface such as glass or plastic

is less formal and applies equally to people and faithful attachment

H

to hold fast

vsto cleave

11 5.5

To stay firmly attached to something or keep believing strongly in an idea

is about close attachment or faithfulness rather than only firmness

L

to latch on

vsto cleave

3.8

To hold on to something so it stays attached

describes ongoing close attachment or steady loyalty rather than initial grip

Antonyms

D

to detach

16 3.9

To take something off from what it is connected to

How Close

to cling

240 2.1

to cleave

• Literature

7 7.5

to adhere

17 5.2

to stick

769 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology