as in assistance
patient and attentive guidance encouragement, or instruction
New computer users often require a good deal of hand-holding.
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Recent Examples of hand-holding
Adams views these interventions not as hand-holding, but as essential adaptations to a new workplace culture, where transparency, constant feedback, and a search for meaning are fundamental.
—
Jason Ma, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025
Ahead of their May studio confirmation, Anderson .Paak and Mariah Carey had already set the internet ablaze with a series of very public hand-holding moments.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 25 Sep. 2025
The Songbird Supreme spoke with Gayle King on the Wednesday, Sept. 24 episode of CBS Mornings about her upcoming 16th studio album, Here for It All, which features collaborations with .Paak following their recent hand-holding outings that sparked romance rumors.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Everyone gathers in the seance room for a little Practical Magic–esque spell-casting hand-holding.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
Cross-train staff, delegate decision making early, and build a leadership layer that doesn’t need hand-holding.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
In the middle of the episode, the pop superstar — who demonstrated visible PDA with Travis, 35, throughout the podcast's two-hour duration (kissing, hand-holding and all) — discussed her obsession with numerology, particularly her fascination with the number 13.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Startups need self-starters who can tackle challenges without excessive hand-holding.
—Abdo Riani, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Jason Ma, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025
Ahead of their May studio confirmation, Anderson .Paak and Mariah Carey had already set the internet ablaze with a series of very public hand-holding moments.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 25 Sep. 2025
The Songbird Supreme spoke with Gayle King on the Wednesday, Sept. 24 episode of CBS Mornings about her upcoming 16th studio album, Here for It All, which features collaborations with .Paak following their recent hand-holding outings that sparked romance rumors.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Everyone gathers in the seance room for a little Practical Magic–esque spell-casting hand-holding.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
Cross-train staff, delegate decision making early, and build a leadership layer that doesn’t need hand-holding.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
In the middle of the episode, the pop superstar — who demonstrated visible PDA with Travis, 35, throughout the podcast's two-hour duration (kissing, hand-holding and all) — discussed her obsession with numerology, particularly her fascination with the number 13.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Startups need self-starters who can tackle challenges without excessive hand-holding.
—Abdo Riani, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand-holding
Noun
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For the last 45 years, the CRC has assisted people facing hunger, homelessness and trauma, offering services like the shelter, a food pantry, counseling, housing assistance and more.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Launched in October 2024 as a pilot effort, the H2O initiative provides transitional housing assistance, move-in support, home modifications and case management to help individuals with serious mental illness stay in stable housing and on treatment plans.—
Joan Meiners,
AZCentral.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
On September 23, the Jurassic World Rebirth star dazzled in a brown blazer, silky pants, and a glittery necklace that caught our attention.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Nelson turned his attention to full-time church leadership in 1984, later joining the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the church’s second-highest governing body, and rising to take the helm as church president in January 2018.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Stanching the hemorrhage of voter support requires some bold moves and tangible achievements.—
Jeff Kingston,
Time,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Clean and sleek, they can be worn while sightseeing, thanks to their next-level support and cushioning, but are classy enough to be worn out to dinner.—
Asia London Palomba,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Just as with the first goal, Zubimendi won’t be credited with an assist, but his vision and ability put Arsenal in dangerous areas.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Messi dished out a trio of assists as the South Florida side pummeled the New England Revolution, 4-1, at a rainy Chase Stadium.—
Franco Panizo,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
When the federal government reached an agreement with Alabama officials last October to address destructive flooding in the predominantly Black Shiloh community, residents thought their calls for help had finally been answered.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
ABC News,
1 Oct. 2025
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While there are reasons to be optimistic about the future, there are still quite a few areas that badly need help.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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At least four people were killed and eight were injured after a gunman attacked a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints service in Michigan on Sunday morning, police said.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
29 Sep. 2025
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At least four people were killed and eight injured when a gunman in a pickup truck smashed through the doors of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Michigan during a Sunday service attended by hundreds, opened fire and set the building ablaze.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hand-holding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand-holding. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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