1
as in congratulated
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 clasped
to put one's arms around and press tightly
Grandma hugged the grandchildren good-bye
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of hugged
Though slightly loose, the fabric hugged Gray’s frame.
—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
23 June 2026
While Banda was catching up with them, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts walked up from behind and hugged the reliever.
—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Wearing a gray shirt and black shorts, Silas gently hugged his brother, who opted for a neon orange vest and ripped jean shorts.
—
Georgia Slater,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
Cars honked their horns and cyclists pulled over to tune in as flags fluttered in the wind, fans clambered to see the screen, and people hugged and shouted.
—
Anna Grace Lee,
Vogue,
17 June 2026
The two young white women with long, straight hair hugged me and cooed and wiped my eyes.
—
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
The Heaven’s 27 parents hugged and talked easily with one another, but their tired eyes always seemed a breath away from tears.
—
Karen Valby,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
Among thousands of Australians and visitors on Manly Beach across from Sydney Harbour in 2000, strangers cried and hugged as the Olympic torch relay passed.
—
Kansas City Star,
15 June 2026
The midi-length number featured a textured bodice with a sweetheart neckline that hugged her body through her upper thighs.
—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
15 June 2026
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
23 June 2026
While Banda was catching up with them, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts walked up from behind and hugged the reliever.
—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Wearing a gray shirt and black shorts, Silas gently hugged his brother, who opted for a neon orange vest and ripped jean shorts.
—
Georgia Slater,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
Cars honked their horns and cyclists pulled over to tune in as flags fluttered in the wind, fans clambered to see the screen, and people hugged and shouted.
—
Anna Grace Lee,
Vogue,
17 June 2026
The two young white women with long, straight hair hugged me and cooed and wiped my eyes.
—
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
The Heaven’s 27 parents hugged and talked easily with one another, but their tired eyes always seemed a breath away from tears.
—
Karen Valby,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
Among thousands of Australians and visitors on Manly Beach across from Sydney Harbour in 2000, strangers cried and hugged as the Olympic torch relay passed.
—
Kansas City Star,
15 June 2026
The midi-length number featured a textured bodice with a sweetheart neckline that hugged her body through her upper thighs.
—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
15 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hugged
Verb
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Owens was begrudgingly congratulated by Hitler, but neither he nor the other Black medalists were ever even acknowledged by Roosevelt, who had also refused to endorse a boycott of the Games—an effort led by Black and Jewish organizations that opposed both Nazism and American segregation.
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Many celebrity friends congratulated Carlson in the comments section.
Verb
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As the service began, it was clasped shut.
-
The Philly duo’s tender, faintly medieval-sounding folk song has its hands clasped and its heart on its sleeve.
Verb
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For the next hour or so, the colors of the canopy shifted, slowly but perceptibly, as the sky clung to its blue and then, after lingering in the inkiest navy for just a few precious minutes, seemed to give it all away.
-
The Pelicans have clung to him tightly, but league sources said New Orleans has been signaling a desire to jump into the first round of next week’s draft.
Verb
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This is just one in a sweaty dungeon of hundreds of TikTok videos that show women being stalked, grabbed, tortured, tossed to the ground, and handcuffed by scary masked soldiers.
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Her mother asked what had just happened, and the girl related that Spencer had grabbed her.
Verb
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Even though the monarchy no longer exists in Rwanda, so revered are the cows that the traditional gifting and exchanging them among kingdoms has been embraced by Kagame.
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Following in line with liberals such as late-night host Bill Maher, Carville expressed concern that Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier, and Brad Lander have embraced antisemitic positions out of line with the establishment, among other policies.
Cite this Entry
“Hugged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hugged. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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