How does the verb adhere contrast with its synonyms?
Some common synonyms of adhere are cleave, cling, cohere, and stick. While all these words mean "to become closely attached," adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together.
antibodies adhering to a virus
In what contexts can cleave take the place of adhere?
The synonyms cleave and adhere are sometimes interchangeable, but cleave stresses strength of attachment.
the wet shirt cleaved to his back
When might cling be a better fit than adhere?
In some situations, the words cling and adhere are roughly equivalent. However, cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils.
clinging to a capsized boat
When is cohere a more appropriate choice than adhere?
While in some cases nearly identical to adhere, cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass.
eggs will make the mixture cohere
When can stick be used instead of adhere?
The words stick and adhere can be used in similar contexts, but stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together.
couldn't get the label to stick
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of adhereDrying too fast or too slow can affect how the paint adheres and compromise its longevity, resulting in premature failure.—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Mar. 2025 Using clean hands, gently press down all over to adhere fillings to dough.—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 May 2025 Greenwood says the film adheres more to the Georgian era rather than the Regency period.—Abigail Lee, Variety, 18 Apr. 2025 Hall’s retirement comes after several top officials have left the Food and Drug Administration and the HHS cut its staff to adhere with the administration’s plans to curb federal spending.—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for adhere
Philips sticked away a backhand attempt by Minnesota’s Brooke McQuigge just 35 seconds into overtime, with the Frost forward getting loose in front of the Ottawa net.
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Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
23 May 2025
An animated Wheel Of Time, for instance, could stick closer to the source material while costing a fraction of what a live-action series costs.
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