HUGGED Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

hugged

verb

past tense of hug

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in clasped

to put one's arms around and press tightly Grandma hugged the grandchildren good-bye

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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 hugged Bryce and Trinity hugged and kissed as fireworks went off and their fellow islanders applauded. — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026 After what may have been the most important game in the Mexican national team’s World Cup history, coach Javier Aguirre hugged each of his 26 players. — Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026 The pair embraced at the net, with Ivanišević almost collapsing with emotional exhaustion, as players hugged and Rafter ruffled his hair fondly. — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 12 July 2026 As the evening turned to night and the festivities wound down, people hugged and said goodbye and thanked my husband and me for persevering. — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026 The ships would travel under cover of darkness, often in convoys that sailed close together and hugged the Omani coast, according to two people familiar with the matter. — Weilun Soon, Fortune, 5 July 2026 The two met on the pitch after the match, hugged and exchanged a few words. — ABC News, 2 July 2026 In the selfie video, Valentina grinned into the camera wearing a gold choker and gold hoops as her mother hugged her from behind. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 30 June 2026 At the defense table that day, Broadwater, wearing a gray pinstripe suit, choked back sobs and hugged his lawyers. — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 30 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hugged

Verb

Speaker Yuri Bohlen congratulated Edmondson for replacing a council member who resigned amid recall efforts.

— Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2026
Trump held calls with Zelenskyy and Putin over the weekend as both leaders congratulated the president on the 250th anniversary of the United States' independence.

— Elise Spenner, ABC News, 8 July 2026

Definition of congratulated

Verb

Shocked, audience members clasped their hands to their mouths as Gordon described how the increasing physical attacks on judges have changed their lives and affected their families.

— Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 11 July 2026
The study, like the seven-and-a half-foot-tall finished painting, shows King Charles head on, in a Welsh Guards uniform, with his hands clasped in front of his waist resting on a sword.

— Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 9 July 2026

Definition of clasped

Verb

Elsewhere along the Black River, campers clung to collapsing structures and trees as floodwaters surged, while search crews continued looking for a woman swept away with her dogs.

— Hallie Golden, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
One common musical principle that Hall and Russell both clung to was an aversion to vibrato and a preference for working with pure tone and drone.

— Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026

Definition of clung

Verb

The victim followed the fleeing Jeep on foot and grabbed onto the vehicle when it got stuck in traffic, authorities said.

— Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 16 July 2026
In September 2020, author Elin Hilderbrand grabbed a drink at the Nantucket Hotel bar with a visiting writer friend.

— Clarissa Cruz, Entertainment Weekly, 16 July 2026

Definition of grabbed

Verb

One theory is that English and European voices provide an air of authority, even legitimacy, to a sport which, while embraced by millions in America, is still ‘foreign’, certainly when compared to NFL, baseball and basketball.

— Nick Miller, New York Times, 18 July 2026
Home makeover shows dominated TV, house-flipping became a booming business, and first-time buyers embraced the idea of trading sweat equity for a lower purchase price.

— Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 17 July 2026

Definition of embraced

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hugest

hugged

hugger-mugger

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“Hugged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hugged. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of hugged

verb

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