Clingy: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ฟ
clingy
[ หklษชลi ]
in relationships
Having a strong emotional attachment or dependence on someone, often to an excessive or suffocating degree.
Synonyms
dependent, needy, overbearing, possessive.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
clingy |
Used to describe someone who consistently seeks attention and closeness from others. It often has a slightly negative connotation, implying neediness.
|
dependent |
This word refers to someone who relies heavily on others for support and decision-making. It can be used in both neutral and slightly negative contexts.
|
needy |
Used to describe someone who requires a lot of emotional support and reassurance. This term often carries a negative connotation.
|
overbearing |
This word describes someone who exerts excessive control or influence over others. It has a very negative connotation.
|
possessive |
Describes someone who wants to have control or ownership over someone else, often in a romantic context. It has a negative connotation.
|
Examples of usage
- She became very clingy after they started dating, always wanting to be together.
- He found her clingy behavior overwhelming and suffocating.
- I don't mind a little bit of clinginess, but it can be too much sometimes.
- Her clingy nature made it difficult for him to have space and time for himself.
- The clingy behavior started to take a toll on their relationship.
Translations
Translations of the word "clingy" in other languages:
๐ต๐น pegajoso
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเคฟเคชเคเคฟเคชเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช anhรคnglich
๐ฎ๐ฉ lengket
๐บ๐ฆ ะปะธะฟะบะธะน
๐ต๐ฑ przylepny
๐ฏ๐ต ็ฒ็ๆงใฎใใ
๐ซ๐ท collant
๐ช๐ธ pegajoso
๐น๐ท yapฤฑลkan
๐ฐ๐ท ๋์ ๊ฑฐ๋ฆฌ๋
๐ธ๐ฆ ูุฒุฌ
๐จ๐ฟ lepkavรฝ
๐ธ๐ฐ lepkavรฝ
๐จ๐ณ ็ฒๆง็
๐ธ๐ฎ lepljiv
๐ฎ๐ธ klรญstraรฐur
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะถะฐะฑััาะฐา
๐ฌ๐ช แฌแแแแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ yapฤฑลqan
๐ฒ๐ฝ pegajoso
Etymology
The word 'clingy' originated from the verb 'cling,' which dates back to the 12th century. The Old English word 'clengan' means 'to stick together' or 'to adhere closely.' Over time, 'clingy' evolved to describe a person who sticks or clings to someone or something, especially in a relationship context. The term gained popularity in the late 20th century as a colloquial way to describe behavior characterized by excessive emotional attachment or dependency.
See also: cling, clinginess, clinging.
Word Frequency Rank
Ranking #35,990, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.
- ...
- 35987 mortician
- 35988 sociopath
- 35989 garrisoning
- 35990 clingy
- 35991 ruinously
- 35992 croquettes
- 35993 importuning
- ...