Thesaurus

embrace

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of embrace

1 to put one's arms around and press tightly

Upon being finally reunited, the overjoyed father embraced his son.

Synonyms of embrace

bear-hug, clasp, crush, enclasp, enfold, grasp, hug, strain

Words Related to embrace

clamp, cling, cradle, grab, grip, hold

bosom, embosom, encircle, entwine, envelop, enwind

fold, lock, twine, wrap

cuddle, fondle, nestle, nuzzle, pat, pet, snuggle, stroke

2 to surround or cover closely

The stone walls that embrace the monastery serve to symbolize its function as a retreat from an unquiet world.

Synonyms of embrace

bosom, bower, cocoon, embosom, embower, enclose (also inclose), encompass, enfold, enshroud, enswathe, envelop, enwrap, invest, involve, lap, mantle, muffle, shroud, swathe, veil, wrap

Words Related to embrace

embed (also imbed), encase

blanket, overlay, overspread

camouflage, cloak, disguise, mask

circle, encircle, enlace, enwind

Near Antonyms of embrace

bare, denude, expose, strip

3 to take for one's own use (something originated by another)

Rap music came to be embraced by people who were far removed from where it originated.

Synonyms of embrace

adopt, borrow, espouse, take on, take up

Words Related to embrace

domesticate, naturalize

appropriate, arrogate, take over, usurp

absorb, assimilate, incorporate, quote

cherish, prize, treasure

cultivate, follow, heed, honor

bring up, foster, nurture, raise, rear

affect, assume, copy, imitate, pretend, put on, simulate

Phrases Synonymous with embrace

pick up on

Near Antonyms of embrace

abandon, forsake, give up, relinquish, surrender

reject, renounce, repudiate, spurn

discard, jettison, junk, throw away, throw out

4 to receive or accept gladly or readily

The exchange student was gratified to be so quickly embraced by people of the small rural community.

Synonyms of embrace

drink (in), eat (up), lap (up), welcome

Words Related to embrace

adopt, espouse, take up

enjoy, like, prefer

cherry-pick, choose, cull, decide (on), elect, handpick, name, opt (for), pick, select, single (out), take

Near Antonyms of embrace

balk (at), decline, pass up, refuse, reject, spurn, throw over, turn down

demur (to), object (to)

5 to have as part of a whole

A course in social studies can embrace everything from sociology to civics and economics.

Synonyms of embrace

carry, comprehend, contain, encompass, entail, include, involve, number, subsume, take in

Words Related to embrace

comprise, consist (of)

have, hold, own, possess

compose, constitute, form, make

assimilate, embody, incorporate, integrate

Near Antonyms of embrace

ban, bar, debar, preclude, prevent, prohibit

deny, refuse, reject

eliminate, except, rule out

lose, mislay, misplace

Antonyms of embrace

exclude, leave (out), omit

6 to form a circle around

a sleepy village embraced by low hills

Synonyms of embrace

circle, compass, encircle, enclose (also inclose), encompass, environ, gird, girdle, ring, surround, wreathe

Words Related to embrace

circumscribe, close in, cordon (off), fence (in), hem (in), wall

beset, besiege, entrench (also intrench), invest, swarm

Synonym Discussion of embrace

adopt, embrace, espouse mean to take an opinion, policy, or practice as one's own. adopt implies accepting something created by another or foreign to one's nature.

- forced to adopt new policies

embrace implies a ready or happy acceptance.

- embraced the customs of their new homeland

espouse adds an implication of close attachment to a cause and a sharing of its fortunes.

- espoused the cause of women's rights

Learn More about embrace

See words that rhyme with embrace Dictionary: Definition of embrace Spanish Central: Translation of embrace Nglish: Translation of embrace for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of embrace for Arabic speakers

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