clingy

adjective

ˈkliŋ-ē 

clingier; clingiest

: having the quality of clinging to someone or something: such as

a

: tending to adhere to a surface upon contact

a clingy plastic wrap

clingy fabrics/clothes

In her clingiest [=tightest-fitting] dress she swings into town and soon has the men howling.

—Peter Travers

b

: tending to stay very close to someone (such as a parent) for emotional support, protection, etc.

a clingy child

Some kids act out or become whiny to get a parent's attention; others become clingy or fearful.

—Leah Hennen

clinginess noun

disliked the fabric's clinginess

Any number of women I interviewed cited clinginess in a boyfriend as a major deal breaker.

—Liza Mundy

Synonyms

• adherent
• adhesive
• gluey
• glutinous
• gummy
• sticky
• tacky
• tenacious
• viscid

Examples of clingy in a Sentence

it took forever to clean up the clingy Styrofoam pellets that had been used as packing material for the lamp

Recent Examples on the Web

Luckily for Addai-Robinson and for us, O'Connor and returning writer Bill Dubuque are quick to reunite the Accountant with his brother Braxton (Jon Bernthal), an emotionally clingy contract killer. —Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 15 Apr. 2025

Meade herself is seen smiling throughout the clips, the dog's clingy antics clearly more endearing than annoying. —David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025

Chemicals in food packaging Food sold in plastic pouches and clingy wraps could be tainted by yet more endocrine-disrupting chemicals like BPA, phthalates, bisphenols, and PFAS. —Matt Fuchs, Time, 27 Mar. 2025

Punkin is the clingy one—protective and unmistakably a mama's girl. —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clingy

• dinghy
• springy
• stringy