canoodling

verb

present participle of canoodle
as in cuddling

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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
  • There’s also a large firepit for cuddling up under the stars with a cocktail or two.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Kye and the girl start to meet once or twice a week in the girl’s apartment, watching TV and cuddling and getting takeout.
    — S. C. Cornell, New Yorker, 29 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
  • In this case, there’s no swiping or rubbing at all—just let the pads sit and soak in for a few minutes before gently patting in the excess.
    — Jenny Jin, Glamour, 29 Sep. 2026
  • 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
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
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Cite this Entry

“Canoodling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canoodling. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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