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

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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
As the name suggests, they are characterized mainly by their slightly slim fit, which hugs the legs to create a cigarette-like silhouette. — Renata Joffre, Glamour, 11 Aug. 2026 My personal favorite example is his insistence that the young actors suppress their natural instinct to hug each other while in character. — Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026
Noun
The Idea of You alum said with a laugh before pulling her mom in for a hug. — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026 The hug was the last round, though, and then real life resumed. — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 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
  • An emotional moment was then shown between the three of them, as well as players coming up to congratulate him afterwards.
    — Hunter DeLauder, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • But instead of congratulating their long-time colleague, her co-workers, under the orders of their department head, urged her to think again.
    — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of congratulate
Verb
  • The new mothers clasped their babies close as a pack of teenagers ran through the park.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of clasp
Noun
  • But the competition for the Golden Lion and the festival’s other awards is only the start of Venice’s wide-ranging embrace of the art of cinema in its many manifestations.
    — David Bloom, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Advertisement Wang can only hope that this tentative embrace of collaboration sticks.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of embrace
Verb
  • Outside, women trudge past in a rainbow of saris that cling to their fragile frames, seared by the punishing sun.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • One man desperately clung to a light pole in Cambridge City as muddy, brown water swirled around him, before he was eventually rescued.
    — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of cling
Noun
  • There were still jobs up for grabs, roster spots in question and even unforgettable debuts.
    — Zach Berman, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • On the first drive of the second half, Brown hauled in a 21-yard grab across the middle on a second-and-15 to get Dallas out from behind the sticks for a first down.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 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 21 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of hug for Spanish Speakers

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