Definition
Holding onto something tightly, either physically or emotionally, and being unwilling to let go.
Etymology
From Old English 'clingan' (to adhere, cling), possibly from a Germanic root meaning to shrink or contract.
Kelly Says
Plants 'cling' to surfaces using thousands of tiny adhesive hairs, but some can release and fall whenever they want—humans and animals that cling emotionally are doing something that the plant world mastered through pure physics.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
መተላለይ
me-te-la-lay
BNবাংলা
নির্ভরতা
nir-bor-ta
CACatalà
adhesió
a-de-sio
CSČeština
přivázanost
pri-va-za-nost'
DADansk
klæbrighed
kle-bri-ghed
DEDeutsch
Anhaftung
ahn-haft-tung
ELΕλληνικά
κολλήσις
kol-lisis
ESEspañol
apego
ah-peh-go
FAفارسی
چسبندگی
cheh-sban-di-gi
FISuomi
kiintyvyys
ki-in-ty-vyys
FRFrançais
collant
koh-lan
HEעברית
הידבקות
hi-de-vukt
HUMagyar
ragaszkodás
ra-gas-zod-as
IDBahasa Indonesia
kebutuhan
ke-bu-tu-han
ITItaliano
attaccamento
at-tak-cha-men-to
MSBahasa Melayu
kebergantungan
ke-ber-gan-tu-ngan
MYမြန်မာ
စကြမ်းစား
ska-kyaan-sa
NLNederlands
aanhankelijkheid
an-han-del-ik-heid
PLPolski
przewlekłość
przew-lek-lo-sć
PTPortuguês
apego
ah-peh-go
RORomână
lipire
li-pee-re
RUРусский
привязанность
pri-vyaz-an-nost'
SVSvenska
klistra
klish-tra
SWKiswahili
kuzima
koo-zee-ma
TAதமிழ்
து Attachment
thu at-tach-ment
THไทย
ความยึดติด
kwan-muan-yut-dit
TLTL
pagkakabit
pa-gkak-a-bit
TRTürkçe
bağlılık
bah-ly-lik
UKУкраїнська
прив'язаність
pri-v'yaz-an-nist'
VITiếng Việt
sự bám víu
su bo-m vi-u
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Negative framing of emotional dependency has been applied to women as 'clingy' or 'needy' while similar attachment in men is described as 'devoted' or 'committed.' This double standard pathologizes women's emotional expression.
Inclusive Usage
Describe the specific dynamic (e.g., 'emotionally dependent,' 'seeking reassurance frequently') without gendered labels that imply pathology.
Inclusive Alternatives
["dependent","seeking reassurance","attached"]