as in stroking
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner
gently caressed her hair
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of caressing
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
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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In the black-and-white video, MGK could be seen holding his baby daughter's hand, stroking her fingers.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
25 Nov. 2025
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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
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Sprinkle the salt mixture all over the turkey, including inside the cavity, patting to adhere and nudging some into the crevices.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Nov. 2025
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Taken together, the answers provided a sort of battle-damage assessment of the current moment, the kind undertaken while everyone is still patting themselves to figure out which parts survived the explosion intact.—
Susan B. Glasser,
New Yorker,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Caressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caressing. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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