kiss

verb

ˈkis How to pronounce kiss (audio)
Definition of kissnext
1
as in to cuddle
to touch one another with the lips as a sign of love it's traditional for couples to kiss under the mistletoe at Christmastime

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to brush
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing a gentle breeze kissing the water's surface

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 kiss While the imagery around the show was overtly erotic, from the footage of mating snails and kissing bodies to the music and the projections, the clothes themselves were less about baring skin than creating a sense of sensuality. — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026 According to Miltenberg, Doe kissed his client first and did not see her drinking alcohol or doing drugs. — Michael Ruiz , Bryan Llenas, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026 When Ramirez’s daughter returned to her seat after speaking, the same relative hugged and kissed her. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026 Across Argentina, fans who grew up watching Messi as their parents watched Maradona now carry him on their skin, in tattoos of him kissing the World Cup trophy. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for kiss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kiss
  1. cuddle
  2. brush
  3. smooch
  4. caress
  5. hug
  6. touch
  7. snuggle
Verb
  • There’s also a large firepit for cuddling up under the stars with a cocktail or two.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Kye and the girl start to meet once or twice a week in the girl’s apartment, watching TV and cuddling and getting takeout.
    — S. C. Cornell, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of cuddle
Verb
  • In one scene, Evans stands completely naked in the shower, brushing his teeth with the bathroom door wide open and the cameras rolling, as Fielder stands awkwardly nearby.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Exhausted by administrators continuously brushing off the toxic hate, her family is taking the district to court.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of brush
Verb
  • In July, Powell also shared a sweet photo of himself and Randolph smooching in a Fourth of July photo dump.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The vinyl edition comes with some special gatefold artwork that appears to show Winter smooching Carnegie Hall’s namesake and builder, Andrew Carnegie.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of smooch
Verb
  • As if that same sea that caresses the feet of the palms were doing it now in Tokyo, in your house.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Breasts are caressed and thighs crisscross; kisses are planted, and occasionally there’s a glimpse of something more graphic.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of caress
Verb
  • Kardashian has been a longtime fan of statement-making shoes, often balancing her figure-hugging clothing choices with bold platform heels.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • After the verdict was read, Foster hugged his parents, who have accompanied him to court throughout the proceedings.
    — Menelaos Hadjicostis, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of hug
Verb
  • Insert an oven-going thermometer into the center of an inside thigh muscle (thermometer should not touch bone).
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Oct. 2026
  • European natural gas futures have not yet reached the record peaks seen during the 2022 energy crisis triggered by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, when prices briefly touched 300 euros per megawatt-hour.
    — , CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of touch
Verb
  • By roasting the brussels sprouts snuggled into a blanket of grated Parmesan cheese, the cheese melts into a crispy, frico-like sheet that clings onto the sprouts, surrounding them in a lace-like halo.
    — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Oct. 2026
  • On Friday, September 11, the 16-time Grammy winner—whose real name is Stefani Germanotta—was photographed with her fiancé, Michael Polansky, and their child, who was snuggled against Gaga’s chest in a baby carrier.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of snuggle

Phrases Containing kiss

Browse Nearby Words

kismets
kiss
kissable
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Cite this Entry

“Kiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kiss. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on kiss

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about kiss

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