clung
Gripped and stayed
Clung is the past tense and past participle of cling.
To cling is to hold tightly or stick closely to something: She clung to the railing as the boat rocked.
The word often suggests desperation or emotional attachment: He clung to the hope that she'd return.
Things that adhere—wet clothes to skin, vines to walls—also cling.
Held with pressure
- graspedClutched or understood
- clutchedHeld firmly in hand
- heldKept in grasp
- embracedHeld someone warmly
latched · clasped · seized · wrapped · hugged · squeezed · anchored · braced
In desperate haste
- tightlyIn a constricting manner
- fearfullyIn a scared way
- panickedOverwhelmed by sudden fear
- white-knuckledShowing extreme anxiety
trembling · precarious · terrified · grasping · scrambling · clawing · dangling · survival
Held someone warmly
- nestledSettled into a sheltered position
- cuddledHeld affectionately close
- snuggledDrew close for warmth
- nuzzledRubbed nose against lovingly
huddled · curled · leaned · mother · child · lover · partner · protector
Desired intensely
- pinedAched with longing
- achedExperienced dull discomfort
- longedFelt intense desire
- nostalgicLonging for the past
sentimental · wistful · bittersweet · memories · past · hope · dreams · beliefs
With inflexible determination
- tenaciouslyWith stubborn persistence
- doggedlyWith obstinate persistence
- steadfastlyWith unyielding commitment
- resolutelyWith firm determination
obstinately · unwaveringly · relentlessly · determinedly · fiercely · defiantly · refused · persisted
gripped
Held with pressure
embraced · latched · clasped · seized · wrapped · hugged · squeezed · anchored · braced · entwined
frantically
In desperate haste
white-knuckled · trembling · precarious · terrified · grasping · scrambling · clawing · dangling · survival · lifeline
embraced
Held someone warmly
- nestledSettled into a sheltered position
- cuddledHeld affectionately close
- snuggledDrew close for warmth
nuzzled · huddled · curled · leaned · mother · child · lover · partner · protector · warmth
yearned
Desired intensely
nostalgic · sentimental · wistful · bittersweet · memories · past · hope · dreams · beliefs · illusions
stubbornly
With inflexible determination
- tenaciouslyWith stubborn persistence
- doggedlyWith obstinate persistence
- steadfastlyWith unyielding commitment
resolutely · obstinately · unwaveringly · relentlessly · determinedly · fiercely · defiantly · refused · persisted · endured