1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

canoodling

verb

present participle of canoodle
as in cuddling

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for canoodling
  1. cuddling
  2. spooning
  3. nuzzling
  4. snuggling
  5. caressing
  6. fondling
  7. petting
  8. patting
Verb
  • In early 2020, the Grammy and Oscar winner made the relationship Instagram official by posting a photo of the two of them on a yacht, cuddling.
    — Martha Ross, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The Rhode beauty founder posed in a tiny white nightdress while cuddling and kissing Justin in bed in photos shared on September 7.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of cuddling
Verb
  • Carefully turn and cook, spooning butter over, until second side is golden brown and fish is cooked through, about 3 minutes.
    — Alexia Duchêne, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 July 2026
  • The fun part of this recipe is poking holes in the cake and then spooning in the blueberry and strawberry fillings alternately to create the red, white, and blue effect.
    — Brennan Long, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
Definition of spooning
Verb
  • West begins nuzzling her, and the two kiss.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 20 May 2026
  • In the end, an Australian photographer claimed the top prize for capturing a tender moment of elephant seal pups nuzzling in a rockpool.
    — Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
Definition of nuzzling
Verb
  • But these kittens can't stop snuggling after being separated.
    — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The next slide showed Thurston snuggling up with her dog, Charlie.
    — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of snuggling
Verb
  • In one video, pop singer Madison Beer was seen caressing Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert's face as if the two were shooting a scene straight out of a reality show.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In the snap, Portman, who’s expecting her third baby, her first with partner Tanguy Destable, could be seen standing in front of an apartment balcony in an oversized blue button-down, caressing her stomach.
    — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
Definition of caressing
Verb
  • The day before, he was accused of kissing and fondling a 15-year-old girl who was on the team, KTUL reported.
    — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026
  • On the same day Gilson sought protection, the mother of a 15-year-old girl filed a separate protective order alleging Duffey, a youth basketball coach, was seen kissing and fondling the teen while alone with her.
    — Staff reports, Oklahoman, 25 July 2026
Definition of fondling
Verb
  • Kenzie assumed the creature was a type of legless lizard native to Europe and started petting it.
    — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026
  • But perhaps no animal is more beloved than Cheeto, an orange cat who lives near the university’s physics department and is the regular subject of doting and petting from students.
    — Vince Basada, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of petting
Verb
  • His goal late against the Leafs was due and showed his hands and dexterity for a big man taking a puck off the wall and patting it in at the post.
    — Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Another picture in the post shows Justin patting Phin on the head as the pair walk together on a golf course, sporting matching golf bags.
    — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of patting
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.

Browse Nearby Words

canoodles
canoodling
canopied
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Canoodling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canoodling. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All