Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Thesaurus

hug

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of hug

1 to express to (someone) admiration for his or her success or good fortune
  • She hugged herself for having made a killing on the investment.
Synonyms of hug

compliment, congratulate, felicitate
Words Related to hug

applaud, cheer, commend, hail, salute

extol (also extoll), glorify, laud, praise
Near Antonyms of hug

bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, decry, deprecate, depreciate, diminish, discount, disparage, minimize, put down, write off

jeer, mock, ridicule, taunt, tease
2 to put one's arms around and press tightly
  • Grandma hugged the grandchildren good-bye.
Synonyms of hug

bear-hug, clasp, crush, embrace, enclasp, enfold, grasp, strain
Words Related to hug

clamp, cling, cradle, grab, grip, hold

bosom, embosom, encircle, entwine, envelop, enwind

fold, lock, twine, wrap

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

Learn More about hug

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

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up hug? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

grudging

play

unwilling or reluctant

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. lowlife 'a person of low moral character'

  2. kakistocracy 'government by the worst people'

  3. slimeball 'a morally repulsive or odious person'

  4. salacious 'arousing or appealing to sexual desire'

  5. oligarch 'government in which a small group exercises control'

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

image236659401
Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

When English borrows from another alphabet

alt-5ada140ed3e28
'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Why not both?

alt-5ad8fc71357ed
Words We're Watching: 'Bluebeard,' the Verb

No, it's not a coiffure trend

alt-5ad8d3361fb97
Where 'Cliff-hangers' Come From

You're on the edge of your seat

Ask the Editors

image1760257654
2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

video-literally
Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her
Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

image1926873504
Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

Take the quiz
cats-on-impossible-timber
More Confusing Words—Quiz

How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

Take the quiz
Spell It
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Take the quiz
Add Diction
Add Diction

Build a chain of words by adding one letter at a time.

Play the game