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
Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 8 Oct. 2025
The high-rise cut and subtle flare make legs look a mile long, while the brand’s signature stretch denim hugs your curves without ever feeling restrictive.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025
The bra is made of a silky fabric that’s lightweight and smoothing for a fit that hugs you and stays hidden under clothes.
—Melody Kazel, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
Yet Massie’s partnership with Paul could pay off anyway, in a district that hugs the Ohio River and includes the Cincinnati suburbs and tiny hamlets like Mount Olivet.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Rent a bike and pedal the picturesque eight-mile loop that hugs the shoreline, pausing to dip your toes in the lake.
—Christine Chitnis, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
Along a dirt road off the narrow highway that hugs the northern shore the taro leaves extend like waving hands from the quilt of rectangular pools so shallow that the birds in them stand with their leg joints exposed.
—Matt Negrin, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2025
The biocellulose of the mask sheet itself holds 100x its weight in serum and hugs the contours of the face for optimum serum delivery.
—Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Head coach Brian Daboll of the New York Giants hugs Malik Nabers #1 after the game against the New Orleans Saints at MetLife Stadium on December 08, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
These best-selling flare leggings feature a buttery-soft blend of nylon and spandex that hugs the shape of your body and provides gentle compression around the mid-section.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 8 Oct. 2025
The high-rise cut and subtle flare make legs look a mile long, while the brand’s signature stretch denim hugs your curves without ever feeling restrictive.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025
The bra is made of a silky fabric that’s lightweight and smoothing for a fit that hugs you and stays hidden under clothes.
—Melody Kazel, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
Yet Massie’s partnership with Paul could pay off anyway, in a district that hugs the Ohio River and includes the Cincinnati suburbs and tiny hamlets like Mount Olivet.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Rent a bike and pedal the picturesque eight-mile loop that hugs the shoreline, pausing to dip your toes in the lake.
—Christine Chitnis, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
Along a dirt road off the narrow highway that hugs the northern shore the taro leaves extend like waving hands from the quilt of rectangular pools so shallow that the birds in them stand with their leg joints exposed.
—Matt Negrin, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2025
The biocellulose of the mask sheet itself holds 100x its weight in serum and hugs the contours of the face for optimum serum delivery.
—Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Head coach Brian Daboll of the New York Giants hugs Malik Nabers #1 after the game against the New Orleans Saints at MetLife Stadium on December 08, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hugs
Verb
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Sandy congratulates both Josh and the interior department and spares some words of encouragement for the deck team.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
7 Oct. 2025
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Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes congratulates players after a first half scoring drive against the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens at Folsom Field on September 6, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Baseball clings to its nine innings and statistical purity, even as pitch clocks, ghost runners and larger bases quicken the pace and spark fan interest.—
Rick Burton,
Sportico.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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When a roach walks through an area treated with boric acid, the dust clings to its body, later attacking its nervous system when ingested.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Everything’s kind of up for grabs.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
10 Oct. 2025
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Advertisement For all these reasons, Milei’s party is set to underperform in the midterms, where half the seats in the Chamber and a third in the Senate are up for grabs.—
Ian Bremmer,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Over half of the workforce now either accepts or actively embraces AI agents.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 Oct. 2025
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Directed by Philip Barantini (known for Adolescence) and produced by Barantini, 45, Sheeran, 34 and Emmy Award winner Ben Winston and filmed in New York City, the special embraces the beautiful chaos that is the Big Apple — all filmed in one shot.—
Marina Watts,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hugs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hugs. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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