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
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Recent Examples of hugged
Renewing acquaintances in April, when the Giants visited San Diego this season for the first time, Preller chatted him up and hugged him.
—
Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
Some collapsed on the ground at the cave’s entrance and were hugged by a group of workers who cried in joy.
—Jintamas Saksornchai, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
Some collapsed on the ground at the cave’s entrance, and were hugged by a group of workers who cried in joy.
—ABC News, 30 May 2026
Plus, the insoles hugged my arches.
—Nicolette Accardi, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026
For their part, the organization did a fantastic job paying their respects to Kyle, while his son Brexton hugged his mother Samantha tight around the hips.
—Trey Wallace, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
Echeverria did and hugged him back.
—William J. Ford, Baltimore Sun, 25 May 2026
Richard Childress as well as dozens of other people in the NASCAR community stood behind the family in a moment of remarkable power, as Samantha hugged Brexton and grew tearful.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 May 2026
The weekend before the election, Massie invited a select group of supporters to his homestead in northeastern Kentucky, including the Holocaust denier Ryan Matta, who previously posed for a photo with Massie and hugged him while wearing an American Reich shirt.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
Some collapsed on the ground at the cave’s entrance and were hugged by a group of workers who cried in joy.
—Jintamas Saksornchai, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
Some collapsed on the ground at the cave’s entrance, and were hugged by a group of workers who cried in joy.
—ABC News, 30 May 2026
Plus, the insoles hugged my arches.
—Nicolette Accardi, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026
For their part, the organization did a fantastic job paying their respects to Kyle, while his son Brexton hugged his mother Samantha tight around the hips.
—Trey Wallace, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
Echeverria did and hugged him back.
—William J. Ford, Baltimore Sun, 25 May 2026
Richard Childress as well as dozens of other people in the NASCAR community stood behind the family in a moment of remarkable power, as Samantha hugged Brexton and grew tearful.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 May 2026
The weekend before the election, Massie invited a select group of supporters to his homestead in northeastern Kentucky, including the Holocaust denier Ryan Matta, who previously posed for a photo with Massie and hugged him while wearing an American Reich shirt.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hugged
Verb
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Hurts did not change his description of their relationship when asked about it in his first news conference of the offseason and congratulated Brown on his wedding.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
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After Wrexham won 3-0 against Charlton to clinch a spot in the European Football League Championship, Lively congratulated her husband, co-owner Rob Mac and the club for a successful season.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
Verb
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In Wake-Keeper (2026), a roughly four-by-five-foot canvas, a pious man draped in the red cloth of traditional Ghanaian funeral attire sits on a stool with his hands clasped, his body facing the left side of the frame.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The New York Review of Books,
6 June 2026
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With the entire circumference surrounded by a sea of humanity, Bishnoi hung back, her hands clasped in front of her mouth, while Rai went and lofted the Wanamaker Trophy above his head.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
Verb
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The Spurs clung to a seven-point lead at halftime, setting up a back-and-forth second half and a tight fourth quarter.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2026
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The conflict dated back to 2012, but both sides clung to the animosity.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
4 June 2026
Verb
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He's also grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 4 assists.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
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Spurs reserve Harrison Barnes accidentally collided with Brunson's right knee while falling to the floor, and the Knicks star immediately grabbed at the leg in apparent pain.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Yeatman embraced those quick adjustments, recalling that the entire crew quickly developed a shorthand that allowed everyone to seamlessly adjust to the needs of the production without having to stop and discuss every little change.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 June 2026
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Along with the saints found on El Mencho’s altar, another saint embraced in narco culture is the Santo Niño of Atocha, a childlike Christ figure known as the patron saint of prisoners and those in danger, said Robert Almonte, a law enforcement trainer and consultant in San Antonio, Texas.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hugged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hugged. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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