as in to hug
to put one's arms around and press tightly
elated team members bear-hugging everyone in sight
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of bear-hug
Running back Isaac Guerendo returned to practice Tuesday and twice ran into the line only to be bear-hugged by Warner, who followed orders and did not tackle to the ground.
—
Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2025
And then Forbes will see the kid disappear into a giant bear-hug.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
Gypsy also scored a nomination for Joy Woods, who plays the actual title role as Momma Rose’s daughter Louise, and for the bear-hug of a performer who is Danny Burstein, while Camille A. Brown’s choreography was recognized but George C. Wolfe’s direction wasn’t.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 1 May 2025
Safdie had designed two pink granite 60-story massive towers, almost bear-hugging each other.
—Ed Wallace, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2025
Recommended Why Republicans blasted Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr. – and bear-hugged Kash Patel
That does not seem likely to overcome Mr. Trump’s preference for unilateral action over international engagement in remaking U.S. foreign policy.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Feb. 2025
But in his Instagram post yesterday, Zuckerberg bear-hugged the term, using it as a synonym for the entire practice of content moderation itself.
—Steven Levy, WIRED, 8 Jan. 2025
Addison extended beyond the Bears defense to snatch a 45-yarder while being bear-hugged in the first half.
—Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
Less than an hour later, a mighty whoop erupted as Chapel sank the third ping-pong ball, and everyone rushed back to the table to yell, leap, chest-bump and bear-hug — a moment of euphoria worthy of a winning lottery ticket.
—Nancy Kruh, Peoplemag, 28 May 2024
Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2025
And then Forbes will see the kid disappear into a giant bear-hug.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
Gypsy also scored a nomination for Joy Woods, who plays the actual title role as Momma Rose’s daughter Louise, and for the bear-hug of a performer who is Danny Burstein, while Camille A. Brown’s choreography was recognized but George C. Wolfe’s direction wasn’t.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 1 May 2025
Safdie had designed two pink granite 60-story massive towers, almost bear-hugging each other.
—Ed Wallace, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2025
Recommended Why Republicans blasted Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr. – and bear-hugged Kash Patel
That does not seem likely to overcome Mr. Trump’s preference for unilateral action over international engagement in remaking U.S. foreign policy.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Feb. 2025
But in his Instagram post yesterday, Zuckerberg bear-hugged the term, using it as a synonym for the entire practice of content moderation itself.
—Steven Levy, WIRED, 8 Jan. 2025
Addison extended beyond the Bears defense to snatch a 45-yarder while being bear-hugged in the first half.
—Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
Less than an hour later, a mighty whoop erupted as Chapel sank the third ping-pong ball, and everyone rushed back to the table to yell, leap, chest-bump and bear-hug — a moment of euphoria worthy of a winning lottery ticket.
—Nancy Kruh, Peoplemag, 28 May 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bear-hug
Verb
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Dennis tries to hug Roman, but Roman attacks him, punching him multiple times before leaving the hotel room.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
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The oldest neighborhood in Miami, Coconut Grove is a sedate enclave that hugs Biscayne Bay about a dozen miles from South Beach—but up to an hour by car during peak traffic—with the iconic Vizcaya Museum and Gardens as its cultural and architectural center.—
Mark David,
Robb Report,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After arriving on the scene, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey ran toward the sanctuary and was later seen clasping his hands outside on the church steps.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
28 Aug. 2025
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Parents, some in tears, walked from the school, clasping their kids by the hands or carrying them out on their shoulders.—
Natasha Korecki,
NBC news,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bear-hug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bear-hug. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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