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
Relevance
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
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 hugs
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
Made from a soft and stretchy cotton blend, the pair hugs in all the right places and works wonders in the butt-lifting department.
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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
Made from a soft and stretchy cotton blend, the pair hugs in all the right places and works wonders in the butt-lifting department.
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hugs
Verb
-
Tiafoe has been one of Baptiste’s biggest fans and congratulates her often on social media.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
-
But then the public address announcer congratulates Charlisse Leger-Walker for her four All-Pac-12 honors and her conference title with Washington State (which came at UCLA’s expense), and the whole ceremony starts to make less sense.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Lindo laughs, clasps his hands together and raises them.—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
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
-
Sprinkle with ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese and leaves from 1 fresh basil sprig, chopped, and toss again until the sauce clings to the pasta.—
Demi Lovato,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
-
As Helen plots revenge and Madeline clings to her rapidly fading star, their world is suddenly turned upside down by Viola Van Horn, a mysterious woman with a secret that's to die for.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The deal currently runs from 2029 to 2039, with the ceremony more specifically taking place at what’s currently known as the Peacock Theater (though naming rights will soon be up for grabs).—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Ezukanma has also been hard to matchup with during one-on-ones and had a few nice grabs during team drills.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Now 39, Horford embraces his role as a mentor for his younger countrymen and those coming from the rest of Latin America.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
When the Sun embraces Saturn in your 12th House of Conceptualization, quiet work becomes powerful.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hugs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hugs. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
