Clingy: meaning, definitions and examples

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clingy

 

[ หˆklษชล‹i ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

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?

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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.

  • She became very clingy after the breakup, constantly calling and texting her friends
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.

  • John is quite dependent on his parents for financial support, even though he has a job
needy

Used to describe someone who requires a lot of emotional support and reassurance. This term often carries a negative connotation.

  • Her boyfriend is so needy; he needs constant validation from her
overbearing

This word describes someone who exerts excessive control or influence over others. It has a very negative connotation.

  • His overbearing personality makes it hard for others to express their opinions
possessive

Describes someone who wants to have control or ownership over someone else, often in a romantic context. It has a negative connotation.

  • Her possessive nature drove him away; he needed more freedom

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:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น pegajoso

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคšเคฟเคชเคšเคฟเคชเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช anhรคnglich

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ lengket

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะปะธะฟะบะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ przylepny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ็ฒ˜็€ๆ€งใฎใ‚ใ‚‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท collant

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ pegajoso

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท yapฤฑลŸkan

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ˆ์ ๊ฑฐ๋ฆฌ๋Š”

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู„ุฒุฌ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ lepkavรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ lepkavรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ็ฒ˜ๆ€ง็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ lepljiv

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ klรญstraรฐur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะถะฐะฑั‹ัา›ะฐา›

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฌแƒ”แƒ‘แƒแƒ•แƒแƒœแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ yapฤฑลŸqan

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ 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.