1
as in cuddles
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
Relevance
2
as in brushes
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.
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Recent Examples of kisses
In the photo, Holland kisses Zendaya's head while on the Spider-Man press tour.
—
Leigh Blickley,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 June 2026
Set in one blistering Midwestern small town summer, everything changes in Mina’s friend group when her best friend unexpectedly kisses her at a sleepover.
—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
My mother kisses her on the forehead.
—
Joseph Trinidad,
Longreads,
16 June 2026
Everyone offers their name and kisses everyone else, and women scrape their lipstick off other people’s cheeks.
—
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Sofia Carson blows kisses to the camera during the amfAR Gala Cannes 2026 at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 21.
—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
25 May 2026
According to legend, anyone who kisses it will be granted the gift of gab.
—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
22 May 2026
Give extra love, hugs, and kisses When adjusting to change, some extra one-on-one attention and a few more daily cuddles and kisses can be helpful, for young children and older ones.
—
Corinne Schuman,
Parents,
22 May 2026
His son Bret recalled his father’s postgame smiles, hugs and kisses with his wife of 58 years Debbie.
—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
26 Apr. 2026
Leigh Blickley,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 June 2026
Set in one blistering Midwestern small town summer, everything changes in Mina’s friend group when her best friend unexpectedly kisses her at a sleepover.
—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
My mother kisses her on the forehead.
—
Joseph Trinidad,
Longreads,
16 June 2026
Everyone offers their name and kisses everyone else, and women scrape their lipstick off other people’s cheeks.
—
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Sofia Carson blows kisses to the camera during the amfAR Gala Cannes 2026 at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 21.
—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
25 May 2026
According to legend, anyone who kisses it will be granted the gift of gab.
—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
22 May 2026
Give extra love, hugs, and kisses When adjusting to change, some extra one-on-one attention and a few more daily cuddles and kisses can be helpful, for young children and older ones.
—
Corinne Schuman,
Parents,
22 May 2026
His son Bret recalled his father’s postgame smiles, hugs and kisses with his wife of 58 years Debbie.
—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kisses
Verb
-
Queen Camilla gets some puppy cuddles during a visit to Newtownards, Northern Ireland, on May 21.
-
Photos from the day showed passengers, airport staff and flight attendants meeting the puppies and giving them cuddles — a welcome sight for anyone passing through.
Verb
-
At a tumultuous teen party halfway through the film, Sonya brushes off Coley completely, buoying drunkenly into the arms of whoever will take her.
-
Bryce Harper, star slugger, the Phillie Phanatic's best friend, and baseball hero to children of all ages, brushes his teeth.
Verb
-
Swift and Styles set tongues wagging after they were spotted by paparazzi strolling together in November 2012, and things seemed even more heated after they were photographed sharing some New Year’s Eve smooches the following month.
Verb
-
The Princess Diaries star smiles, caresses her belly, then ducks out of the frame.
-
Those of us with a penchant for fashion have managed—not without effort—to put aside the knowing glances, caresses, and hugs to take in every detail of the look.
Verb
-
There have been plenty of family snuggles, though, which helped make the exhaustion easier to handle.
-
This affectionate boy adores people, thrives on human attention and will happily lean in for pets, snuggles or just to be close.
Verb
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Costco opted to open a gas station only in a shopping center that hugs the 5 freeway at Oso Parkway.
-
Over the weekend, the alternate route, which hugs the Omani coast, was expanded to accommodate both inbound and outbound traffic.
Cite this Entry
“Kisses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kisses. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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