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
Mamdani’s refusal to bear-hug Israeli leadership, which until recently was de rigueur for both political parties, has transformed him into the embodiment of a bogeyman for some Jews who live above 60th Street.
—
Hannah Seligson, Vanity Fair, 9 Jan. 2026
Williams celebrated by jumping onto the goal post padding and bear-hugging the upright, which earned him a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
—CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025
Aggies players were ecstatic with the triumph, high-fiving and bear-hugging each other and then shaking hands with fans young and old.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 15 Nov. 2025
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
Hannah Seligson, Vanity Fair, 9 Jan. 2026
Williams celebrated by jumping onto the goal post padding and bear-hugging the upright, which earned him a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
—CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025
Aggies players were ecstatic with the triumph, high-fiving and bear-hugging each other and then shaking hands with fans young and old.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 15 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bear-hug
Verb
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The overall pessimism is leading people to stay put in their current jobs out of fear of facing a challenging job market, also known as job hugging.—
Jennifer Liu,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
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The crowd started kissing and hugging and crying — New Year’s Eve who?—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Smith sits poised, contemplative, his hands clasped together.—
Sam Kestenbaum,
Vulture,
2 Jan. 2026
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The 41-year-old Monterey Park resident clasped a cup of hot chocolate.—
Itzel Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bear-hug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bear-hug. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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