hugging

verb

present participle of hug
1
as in congratulating
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 clasping
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 hugging Gomez's outfit, styled by Erin Walsh, featured a figure-hugging silhouette with a scoop neckline and a fringe hem. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 5 July 2026 Videos from these gatherings showing chanting crowds beneath concert lights, audience members crying, hugging strangers and dancing barefoot have racked up millions of views online. — Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 4 July 2026 Swift shared a glimpse of the fun on Instagram by posting some Polaroids of them laughing, hugging and enjoying red, white and blue Popsicles. — Joyann Jeffrey, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026 Pediatric nurse Lindsay, glamorous in a sleek, body-hugging gown, wore a hue seen on a few other female guests as well, including Swift’s childhood friend Abigail Anderson, a former swimmer at the University of Kansas. — Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026 On a recent afternoon outside the temple in central Kerala, Raman stood motionless as two children played, giggling and hugging its trunk. — ABC News, 3 July 2026 When the Chiefs won, the Grammy winner joined Kelce on the field, kissing and hugging him. — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026 Up in the stands, the Weahs lost their minds, cheering and hugging everyone in sight, the famous George Weah included. — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 25 June 2026 Some sat on the ground hugging their pets as dust gathered around them. — CBS News, 25 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hugging
  1. congratulating
  2. clasping
  3. clinging
  4. grabbing
  5. embracing
Verb
  • All participating children receive certificates, congratulating them on participation or meeting those goals.
    — Chelsea Cirruzzo, STAT, 2 July 2026
  • On Saturday, Jeffries took a step in that direction by congratulating New York City's Democratic nominees, including Valdez and Chevalier.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 June 2026
Definition of congratulating
Verb
  • Charlotte, an avid tennis fan like her mom, could be seen clasping her face in shock with her eyes wide during the games, mirroring Kate's own expressions at times.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 4 July 2026
  • Aabria, by contrast, leans on personality and connection, clasping hands with the jurors and complimenting them before calmly lying about the rules of the bra contest and her victory.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 30 June 2026
Definition of clasping
Verb
  • Its relaxed silhouette helps prevent fabric from clinging to your skin, while the lightweight construction feels light throughout the day.
    — Aashna Gheewalla, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
  • The terrain is rocky, with vineyards clinging to steep limestone slopes, simultaneously warmed by the sun and cooled by salty Adriatic breezes.
    — Tia Lovisa Moreira, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026
Definition of clinging
Verb
  • Americans are grabbing their passports and fleeing the country in hopes of leaving the nation’s problems behind.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 2 July 2026
  • Swanson argues those behind-the-scenes improvements have done more to modernize logistics than many of the industry’s headline-grabbing automation projects.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 2 July 2026
Definition of grabbing
Verb
  • The Bulls are embracing a positionless archetype of play this season, which pushes young players such as Swain to broaden their identity on the court.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026
  • Their strategies range from asking better questions and providing immediate value to embracing transparency, acknowledging limitations and creating genuine human connections that skeptical buyers remember.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of embracing

Browse Nearby Words

hugger-mugger
hugging
hugs
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Cite this Entry

“Hugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hugging. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of hugging for Spanish Speakers

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