as in stroking
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner
gently caressed her hair
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Recent Examples of caressing
Williams knows how to humanize this bare-bones vocabulary, minutely adjusting the voicing of a chord or caressing the last of a set of recurring motifs with a regretful ritardando.
—
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
The actor followed her around at several events related to the wedding, eventually caressing the back of her arm and pressing his knee against hers under the table.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Jan. 2026
The 39-year-old Nigerian-British actress hit the first official awards show of the season, donning a canary yellow gown and caressing her bump as the cameras flashed.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
In one instance, Alix leans in to whisper something in his ear while caressing his back.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 2 Jan. 2026
Weeping and caressing the lifeless Rahaf in her arms, the baby’s mother, Hejar Abu Jazar, kept ululating in despair.
—Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
The Young Pope star was seen caressing Coan’s back and whispering in her ear.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The singer was spotted in pictures shared to social media, gently caressing the baby bump of his romantic partner.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
The actor followed her around at several events related to the wedding, eventually caressing the back of her arm and pressing his knee against hers under the table.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Jan. 2026
The 39-year-old Nigerian-British actress hit the first official awards show of the season, donning a canary yellow gown and caressing her bump as the cameras flashed.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
In one instance, Alix leans in to whisper something in his ear while caressing his back.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 2 Jan. 2026
Weeping and caressing the lifeless Rahaf in her arms, the baby’s mother, Hejar Abu Jazar, kept ululating in despair.
—Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
The Young Pope star was seen caressing Coan’s back and whispering in her ear.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The singer was spotted in pictures shared to social media, gently caressing the baby bump of his romantic partner.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caressing
Verb
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She was later reunited with her dog, stroking him in stunned silence before being taken to the hospital.—
Danielle Bacher,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
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At one point Eliot entered the TV room and found Abby with her head on Claire’s lap, Claire stroking her hair.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The dog then slumped into the boat, with one crew member gently patting it in comfort.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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Harry watched on, sitting next to Damian, and sometimes patting his back when Hurley became emotional, per Reuters.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Caressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caressing. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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