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
  • 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
  • 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 18 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of hug for Spanish Speakers

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