caressed; caressing; caresses
1
: to treat with tokens of fondness, affection, or kindness : cherish
The regiment was fed and caressed at station after station …—
Stephen Crane
Stephen Crane2
a
: to touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner
She caressed the baby's cheek.
b
: to touch or affect as if with a caress
echoes that caress the ear
caresser
noun
1
: an act or expression of kindness or affection : endearment
… the gifts and caresses of mankind shall recompense the toils of study …—Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson2
a
: a light stroking, rubbing, or patting
a gentle caress of her shoulder
b
: kiss
She gave him a parting caress.
caressively
adverb
Examples of caress in a Sentence
Verb
She caressed the baby's cheek.
A warm breeze caressed her face.
Noun
She gave the baby's cheek a gentle caress.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
And through all this, Saariaho’s elaborately beautiful orchestration scintillates, jabs, caresses, and swerves, giving all that vivid misery a sheen of lyric glamour.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026
Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 17 Apr. 2026
From a storm to a haven, a jolt to a caress: There is a sharp tonal shift from Anjimile’s second studio album to his third.
—Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for caress
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Verb
Electric Bleu is French food caressed with California seasonality and the occasional pop of Aussie nostalgia.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
And through all this, Saariaho’s elaborately beautiful orchestration scintillates, jabs, caresses, and swerves, giving all that vivid misery a sheen of lyric glamour.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
Queen Margrethe’s pet has starred in some of the most tender moments, receiving the caresses of both her and Queen Mary.
—Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 17 Apr. 2026
From a storm to a haven, a jolt to a caress: There is a sharp tonal shift from Anjimile’s second studio album to his third.
—Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for caress
Cite this Entry
“Caress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caress. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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