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

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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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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
Morales' supporters hugged, chanted, jumped up and down, pumped fists, clapped, whistled and cheered once the last batch of results came into the courtyard of Riffraff Bookstore, with Morales showing the decisive lead. — Colin Hogan, The Providence Journal, 10 Sep. 2026 The late Princess of Wales wore the black, silk, off-the-shoulder, asymmetric and figure-hugging dress on June 29, 1994. — Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026
Noun
Then, outside the Long Beach courtroom, Gonzalez and Bustillos’ mother shared a tearful hug. — Jacob Sisneros, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 In the distance, a toddler in a matching Nike outfit literally leaped into the arms of a crying woman, perhaps a grandmother, squeezing tightly for a hug. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 30 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
  • The leaders of right-wing populist parties in Spain and Portugal also congratulated AfD, German news agency dpa reported.
    — Kirsten Grieshaber, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Christian Democrat candidate Sven Schulze took to the stage on Sunday evening to congratulate the AfD on its win.
    — Esme Nicholson, NPR, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of congratulate
Verb
  • But if the awards season goes as the streamer plans, a journey that began in Cannes with a rapturous standing ovation, could end with Los Javis clasping some golden statues.
    — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Davis stood with his lawyer as the verdict was read, then sat with his hands clasped on the table.
    — Jon Haworth, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of clasp
Noun
  • The match, and their embrace at the end, captivated the tournament.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • This signifies the semiconductor industry’s broader embrace of high NA EUV photolithography technology that can cost up to $400 million per machine and is only provided by the Dutch technology company ASML, Bloomberg reports.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of embrace
Verb
  • Their next two opponents after the Phillies are the Chicago Cubs, who are a game behind the top NL Wild Card spot, and the Houston Astros clinging to a three-game lead in the AL West.
    — Jesús Cano, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Milk fats and proteins can also cling to silicone surfaces, especially if water does not directly reach the interior.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of cling
Noun
  • Still, if Curl doesn’t make a clutch diving grab as the ball nosedived toward the grass, that’s merely an incomplete pass that no one remembers.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Armstrong continued to bolster his case for NL MVP, drawing a four-pitch walk, scoring twice and making a leaping grab at the center-field wall to rob Miami’s Heriberto Hernández of a potential extra-base hit in the sixth.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 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 Sep. 2026.

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