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
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Recent Examples of hugging
The pair posed on the electric blue carpet, hugging and embracing for the cameras.
—
Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 7 May 2026
For background, photos showed Russini and Vrabel hugging and holding hands at a private resort in Arizona last month.
—Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
Instead of opting for a body-hugging gown, Kim Kardashian went wore a bright orange metallic body plate from the ’60s designed by Allen Jones.
—Beatrice Dupuy, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2026
Maitlyn Gandy, Athena’s mother, could be seen crying and hugging Athena’s younger sister.
—Harriet Ramos
may 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 May 2026
But there’s also much toasting and kissing and hugging as the married couples reunite with at least one baby in tow and possibly another as Danny and Claude consider adopting their own.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 May 2026
That spirit is exemplified by Ford, a gregarious hostess who moves through the various groupings of women in a diaphanous full-length blue dress, introducing Godfred to a group of attendees and hugging both first-timers and her OGs enthusiastically.
—Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
The Kardashians reality star made her Paris runway debut at the Balenciaga Couture show in July 2022, alongside Nicole Kidman and Naomi Campbell in a body-hugging black dress.
—Emily Kirkpatrick, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
The overall frame goes in at the middle, hugging a tower of three petite drawers with stainless steel and marble handles.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 Apr. 2026
Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 7 May 2026
For background, photos showed Russini and Vrabel hugging and holding hands at a private resort in Arizona last month.
—Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
Instead of opting for a body-hugging gown, Kim Kardashian went wore a bright orange metallic body plate from the ’60s designed by Allen Jones.
—Beatrice Dupuy, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2026
Maitlyn Gandy, Athena’s mother, could be seen crying and hugging Athena’s younger sister.
—Harriet Ramos
may 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 May 2026
But there’s also much toasting and kissing and hugging as the married couples reunite with at least one baby in tow and possibly another as Danny and Claude consider adopting their own.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 May 2026
That spirit is exemplified by Ford, a gregarious hostess who moves through the various groupings of women in a diaphanous full-length blue dress, introducing Godfred to a group of attendees and hugging both first-timers and her OGs enthusiastically.
—Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
The Kardashians reality star made her Paris runway debut at the Balenciaga Couture show in July 2022, alongside Nicole Kidman and Naomi Campbell in a body-hugging black dress.
—Emily Kirkpatrick, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
The overall frame goes in at the middle, hugging a tower of three petite drawers with stainless steel and marble handles.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hugging
Verb
-
Sometimes, the crowd at a nearby ballpark will issue a rousing cheer – as if congratulating you on a hike well done.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
-
Al-Sudani issued a statement congratulating al-Zaidi.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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McDaniels held onto Murray for dear life — often literally clasping his jersey — as the Nuggets tried to run him off every conceivable screen.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
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The june bug falls to the bottom of the bag but manages to recover from a new round of kicking by clasping to a leaf.—
María Ospina,
The Dial,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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By 1900, the Irish-speaking areas were a ragged patchwork of smallish standalone zones, clinging to the island’s western and southern shores.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 May 2026
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The brothers couldn’t afford public transportation, often sneaking rides by clinging to the backs of trolleys until conductors forced them off.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Other complaints had to do with the Puerto Rican rap star grabbing his crotch, and with two dancers who allegedly grabbed each other's breasts (which, if true, is a wild dance move).—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
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Particularly since the savings made in service-staff costs and brick-and-mortar bar space, not to mention the affordability of buying booze here in China's RMB currency, aren't that far off grabbing a can or bottle from a nearby 24-hour convenience store.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 May 2026
Verb
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But of recent, Clooney has been embracing the rising temperatures with something a little leggier.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
9 May 2026
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After a few minutes, your eyes gradually adjust, and the performers, the maybe-lovers, come into view, flesh on the ground, writhing and making out and embracing.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hugging. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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