hug 1 of 2

verb

ˈhəg How to pronounce hug (audio)
Definition of hugnext
1
as in to congratulate
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 & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to clasp
to put one's arms around and press tightly Grandma hugged the grandchildren good-bye

Synonyms & Similar Words

hug

2 of 2

noun

as in embrace

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hug
Verb
Russini resigned from her post at The Athletic amid mounting criticism over her relationship with Vrabel after photographs of them hugging and holding hands at a private resort in Sedona, Arizona, went viral. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Photos of Russini and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel holding hands, hugging and sitting together in a hot tub at an Arizona resort were published by the New York Post in March. — Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
De Minaur zipped to a 5-0 lead, downshifted, then won 6-2, 6-3 and delivered a big sweaty hug at the net. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 Maura Higgins and Serena Page, both supernovas in the Love Island cinematic universe and beyond, reunited with a big hug. — Avery Stone, Time, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hug
  1. congratulate
  2. clasp
  3. embrace
  4. cling
  5. grab
  6. cradle
Verb
  • Carr issued a statement congratulating Thumann Severs but did not express any wish for a five-member commission.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Chances are you answer emails while sitting in meetings, listen to podcasts while exercising, scroll your phone while standing in line and congratulate ourselves for squeezing more into every hour.
    — Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of congratulate
Verb
  • In 1975, as Cold War tensions thawed, an American commander and his Soviet counterpart clasped hands in space after their spacecraft docked.
    — Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2026
  • This gadget from the comics is typically depicted as a metal collar clasped around a mutant’s neck.
    — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 31 July 2026
Definition of clasp
Noun
  • The admission, an aside in a wide-ranging interview, raised eyebrows in the recovery community given the star’s very public embrace of sobriety after joining a 12-step program following his 2016 split from wife Angelina Jolie.
    — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • With the embrace of partisan gerrymandering and geographic sorting, where individuals gravitate toward politically similar populations, few races are competitive on election day.
    — Jack Harvel August 12, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of embrace
Verb
  • Ransom money was paid and searches were conducted as a country and a family clung to hope.
    — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Lyman clung to the hope that her son’s case would be different, and that Kaur would serve time behind bars for the collision.
    — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of cling
Noun
  • On Monday night, players across the country will once again try to turn a $2 ticket into $905 million, chasing one of the largest lottery prizes ever up for grabs.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Bregman pulled a 95 mph fastball into the hole, but Witt made a terrific backhand grab to corral the baseball.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of grab
Verb
  • The device features flexible side wings that can fold inward to cradle the head and neck.
    — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
  • While standard flip-flops are generally relatively flat, these are made with plenty of arch support, along with deep heel cups to cradle your feet for full-day comfort.
    — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2026
Definition of cradle

Browse Nearby Words

huffy
hug
huge
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Cite this Entry

“Hug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hug. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of hug for Spanish Speakers

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