hugged

verb

past tense of hug
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 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
  1. congratulated
  2. clasped
  3. clung
  4. grabbed
  5. embraced
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
  • The show is in high demand, and media buyers say their clients have embraced becoming part of the cultural conversations.
    — Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • But state Senate leadership had embraced the Fair Share plan.
    — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of embraced

Browse Nearby Words

hugest
hugged
hugger-mugger
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Cite this Entry

“Hugged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hugged. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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