1
as in cuddles
to touch one another with the lips as a sign of love
it's traditional for couples to kiss under the mistletoe at Christmastime
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in brushes
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing
a gentle breeze kissing the water's surface
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of kisses
The neighborhood/area The resort kisses the outskirts of what’s considered Boca Raton’s downtown.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Apr. 2026
As Josh is being arrested, Lindsay hops over the police barrier and passionately kisses him goodbye.
—Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Points are awarded by zone, from 0 to 5; gutter balls subtract a point, while a ball that kisses the stake earns a perfect 10.
—Brittany Anas, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2026
Robert Ballard hugs and kisses family members before deployment.
—Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
In the sweet video, Steinfeld lifts her black sweatshirt to reveal her baby bump, which her husband then kisses and cradles; the two frolic in the snow looking so in love.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 2 Apr. 2026
Xavier kisses his wife and son, sends them on their way above ground, and goes after Presley.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
Prince William, meanwhile, only did the cheek kisses to say hello to Queen Camilla.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 18 Mar. 2026
Inspired, Larry grabs a random woman and kisses her on the mouth.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Apr. 2026
As Josh is being arrested, Lindsay hops over the police barrier and passionately kisses him goodbye.
—Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Points are awarded by zone, from 0 to 5; gutter balls subtract a point, while a ball that kisses the stake earns a perfect 10.
—Brittany Anas, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2026
Robert Ballard hugs and kisses family members before deployment.
—Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
In the sweet video, Steinfeld lifts her black sweatshirt to reveal her baby bump, which her husband then kisses and cradles; the two frolic in the snow looking so in love.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 2 Apr. 2026
Xavier kisses his wife and son, sends them on their way above ground, and goes after Presley.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
Prince William, meanwhile, only did the cheek kisses to say hello to Queen Camilla.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 18 Mar. 2026
Inspired, Larry grabs a random woman and kisses her on the mouth.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kisses
Verb
-
Photos from the day showed passengers, airport staff and flight attendants meeting the puppies and giving them cuddles — a welcome sight for anyone passing through.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Winners advance each round until one champion cuddles their way to the top.—
Kelsey Monstrola,
USA Today,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Tokyo Stylez, Cardi’s hairstylist, brushes out a sleek brown hairpiece, and Erika la’ pearl, her makeup artist, dabs at Cardi’s face while the rapper scrolls through her phone, controlling the music.—
Jazmine Hughes,
Allure,
24 Mar. 2026
-
When some chime in to say their doctors had been cautiously optimistic about treatments, Sarah brushes that aside.—
Gerald Witt,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Swift and Styles set tongues wagging after they were spotted by paparazzi strolling together in November 2012, and things seemed even more heated after they were photographed sharing some New Year’s Eve smooches the following month.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Also starring Jack Palance and Fritz Lang, the behind-the-scenes drama about the making of a movie begins with Bardot lying nude on a bed as her husband (Michel Piccoli) caresses and praises her body.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
This affectionate boy adores people, thrives on human attention and will happily lean in for pets, snuggles or just to be close.—
Maryanne Dell,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Inside the stables, the family’s other two horses greeted Troy with affectionate sniffs, snuggles and neighs.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Not only does the material ensure comfort and support, but the unique design, with thick straps that curve to the exact shape of my arches and a cupped heel, creates a glove-like fit that hugs my feet.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Slim planter beds along fences operate on the same principle, replacing bulky garden beds with streamlined growing space that hugs the perimeter and keeps the center of the garden open and breathable.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kisses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kisses. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
