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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 Seated in a wheelchair, he was quickly wheeled out of the courtroom after the sentencing, while some of his accusers hugged and brushed away tears. — Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026 Community members, including many teenagers, hugged and supported each other during the emotional gathering. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2026 His family members hugged each other and sobbed, but still declined comment after the sentence. — Glenn Rice, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026 Awartani and Aliahmad, sitting in the front row of the courtroom gallery, smiled and hugged people around them. — ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026 In flight tests, the tiny drone navigated pitch-black enclosures, mapped unknown room layouts, hugged surface contours, and located exits without a single visual cue. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026 Partner Alan Bersten hugged De Laurentiis, kissing her on the head, while also crying. — Entertainment Weekly, 17 Sep. 2026 The tailored dress hugged Vergara’s frame at the top but delivering a more relaxed fit on the skirt. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026 Except Diggs leapt and hugged the goalpost after the score — drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hugged
  1. congratulated
  2. clasped
  3. clung
  4. grabbed
  5. embraced
Verb
  • The veteran coach congratulated his team for the win and quickly pivoted to yelling about mental mistakes that kept Houston County in the game.
    — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Fineman, 38, congratulated the newest SNL cast members in her own Instagram post after the big reveal.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of congratulated
Verb
  • Davis stood with his lawyer as the verdict was read, then sat with his hands clasped on the table.
    — Jon Haworth, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In a 1987 article for the New York Times, Albuquerque jewelry salesman Manny Goodman recalls seeing Native Americans wearing bandanas clasped with silver conches as early as the 1930s.
    — Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of clasped
Verb
  • These prejudices, combined with the establishment of Italian churches and feasts, led to the belief that Italian immigrants clung too strongly to the traditions of their homeland and refused to assimilate into American culture.
    — Clare Whitton, The Conversation, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Even after a catastrophic 2023 heatwave set off the worst coral bleaching event in state history, some plucky polyps clung to life.
    — Nicolás Rivero, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of clung
Verb
  • Except a woman who knew both of them eventually grabbed Leigh and more or less threw her into Beck.
    — Josephine Reisman, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Two veteran training officers and new paramedic Cristina DeBiase grabbed their equipment and gurney while another EMT remained with the ambulance and attempted to move it through traffic.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of grabbed
Verb
  • But its vision of the city, a space that seems impossible to hold in your head but can be overcome and even embraced, feels incredibly emotionally accurate.
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Moore’s parents have embraced the talk of what could be ahead.
    — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 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 26 Sep. 2026.

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