as in to pat
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner
gently caressed her hair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 caress
Breaths that came as strong as fingers caressed me, travelling the length of me, beginning to tease and probe.
—
Hazlitt, 12 Mar. 2025
Breaths that came as strong as fingers caressed me, travelling the length of me, beginning to tease and probe.
—Hazlitt, 12 Mar. 2025
The men caress fruit, sometimes toying with a stem on their tongue.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 9 Mar. 2025
But Gallardo clandestinely documented her experience there; in the exhibition, a short, lo-fi video shows her hands slowly caressing those of Estela, an ailing senior citizen and former street worker who lived at Casa Xochiquetzal.
—Fabiola Iza, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for caress
Hazlitt, 12 Mar. 2025
Breaths that came as strong as fingers caressed me, travelling the length of me, beginning to tease and probe.
—Hazlitt, 12 Mar. 2025
The men caress fruit, sometimes toying with a stem on their tongue.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 9 Mar. 2025
But Gallardo clandestinely documented her experience there; in the exhibition, a short, lo-fi video shows her hands slowly caressing those of Estela, an ailing senior citizen and former street worker who lived at Casa Xochiquetzal.
—Fabiola Iza, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for caress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caress
Verb
-
Afterward, wash the cleanser off with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.4 Some people with sensitive skin find that cleansing with water in the morning is sufficient, and over-cleansing with products can irritate their skin.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
15 May 2025
-
Using paper towels, pat your chicken dry (no need to rinse it first).—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2025
Verb
-
Interacting with a pet, such as stroking them, can ease the mind and boost the sense of tranquility.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 May 2025
-
His purpose is solely to stroke his outsized, narcissistic ego to compete with other authoritarian countries such as Russia and North Korea.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
12 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Caress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caress. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share