1
as in congratulates
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 clasps
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 hugs
Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
The Lake County portion hugs the shoreline south to Lake Cook Road and continues west to the eastern part of Buffalo Grove.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
President Barack Obama hugs Shigeaki Mori at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial park cenotaph in Hiroshima on May 27, 2016.
—CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
Dressing a bump can be tricky, but Mosaku shines in the Louis Vuitton sequin gown that hugs her curves.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
This is a scent that doesn’t announce your presence upon entry, but instead hugs you intimately, close to the skin.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2026
The fabric is a poly-spandex stretch blend, which hugs the body just enough to prevent excess drag while still remaining comfortable.
—Joe Jackson, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026
In the pictures, Sarah wore an ash gray cardigan, her thick brunette hair shoulder-length; Elena, in a flowery dress, hugs her mom in one photo.
—Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
The district hugs a square mile, from Sixth to 23rd streets, from Ocean Drive on the Atlantic Ocean to Lenox Court near Biscayne Bay.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
The design hugs the foot without feeling restrictive, while still providing enough stability for all-day wear.
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
The Lake County portion hugs the shoreline south to Lake Cook Road and continues west to the eastern part of Buffalo Grove.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
President Barack Obama hugs Shigeaki Mori at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial park cenotaph in Hiroshima on May 27, 2016.
—CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
Dressing a bump can be tricky, but Mosaku shines in the Louis Vuitton sequin gown that hugs her curves.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
This is a scent that doesn’t announce your presence upon entry, but instead hugs you intimately, close to the skin.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2026
The fabric is a poly-spandex stretch blend, which hugs the body just enough to prevent excess drag while still remaining comfortable.
—Joe Jackson, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026
In the pictures, Sarah wore an ash gray cardigan, her thick brunette hair shoulder-length; Elena, in a flowery dress, hugs her mom in one photo.
—Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
The district hugs a square mile, from Sixth to 23rd streets, from Ocean Drive on the Atlantic Ocean to Lenox Court near Biscayne Bay.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hugs
Verb
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Lala brings Janet over, Janet congratulates Nia on the baby, and tells her that if there’s anything she’d like to say or get off her chest, Janet will listen.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
9 Apr. 2026
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Tiafoe has been one of Baptiste’s biggest fans and congratulates her often on social media.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Lindo laughs, clasps his hands together and raises them.—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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Keeping that hardshell closed is a pair of wide, beefy aluminum latches with a lower swing arm that clasps to a closure bar via a pair of hooks.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Biff, once a high school star, is now disillusioned and searching for meaning after years of false starts, while Happy — outwardly confident and eager to impress — clings to a glossy vision of success that masks his own dissatisfaction.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
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No matter how any individual race plays out, the stench clings to much of the team.—
Michelle Cottle,
Mercury News,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Swalwell denied the allegations, only to drop out of the race shortly after, leaving the group’s endorsement up for grabs.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
15 Apr. 2026
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The position remains up for grabs because of inconsistency.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the festival also embraces a whole world of guitar playing, with musicians from North Africa, South Asia, and Australia.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
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Ben Stiller embraces basketball legends Walt Frazier and Stephon Marbury at the Chase Sapphire Dinner on the Court event at Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 11.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hugs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hugs. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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