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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hug
Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
Watch the video above to see the airman sprint to hug her little sister.
—Seth Carnell, USA Today, 9 Jan. 2026
Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
That day was about finding a balance — giving each other space when needed and then coming together at the end with a hug, holding hands.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hug
Verb
Santanelli also at some point in the inappropriate relationship had hugged and kissed the student, according to the police department.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
Watch the video above to see the airman sprint to hug her little sister.
—Seth Carnell, USA Today, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
Everyone wanted to give her a hug.
—Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
That day was about finding a balance — giving each other space when needed and then coming together at the end with a hug, holding hands.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hug
Verb
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Pop icon Justin Bieber publicly congratulated him, leading to the development of a friendship between the two.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
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Legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk — who knows a little something about landing a 900 — congratulated Ovechkin on the milestone.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Smith sits poised, contemplative, his hands clasped together.—
Sam Kestenbaum,
Vulture,
2 Jan. 2026
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The 41-year-old Monterey Park resident clasped a cup of hot chocolate.—
Itzel Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
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An alternative might be to deviate even further from his identity, embrace offense, increase the pace and the deployment of small-ball units.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Almost 55 years since Southwest’s first flight took off from Dallas Love Field, its CEO has abandoned its distinctive embrace of open seating, single-class cabins and letting customers check two bags for free.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Most notably, the Sabres held on when the ice was tilted in their direction clinging to a one-goal lead in the third period.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Wendell Cruz / Imagn Images The Buffalo Sabres were clinging to a 3-2 lead with just over five minutes to play against the New York Rangers when Peyton Krebs took a careless high-sticking penalty.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The deal is regarded as significant as Iglesias’ comedy catalogue was one of the most high-profile still up for grabs on the marketplace.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
7 Jan. 2026
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Wilson recorded 61 catches and a team-high six scores in 2023 as a true freshman, but managed just 19 grabs and one score after a hip injury ended his 2024 season.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While most pies rely on a pastry crust to cradle their fillings, Angel Pie is different.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
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Wyoming defensive back Desman Hearns followed Brousseau’s eyes, too, stepping in front of Maher and cradling the pick at the CSU 49.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hug. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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