as in courting
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as in stroking
to praise too much
a candidate who knows that you have to massage the voters if you want to get elected
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of massaging
Shawn Childs, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
The interior aims for a whisper quiet experience with acoustic glass, and features leather seats with heating, cooling and massaging functions.
—Tony Leopardo, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
The reality was hours spent tuning schemas, massaging formats and working with data that was stale before anyone could act on it.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Iman Balagam, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
These ads showed images of tractors, mountains of blueberries and a man’s hands massaging a clump of dirt, each segment highlighting a different part of the industry.
—Carolina Abbott Galvão, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026
Some people might allege conspiracy — that someone inside the agency is massaging numbers.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 4 Jan. 2026
Options like massaging seats and a third row are also available.
—New Atlas, 27 Dec. 2025
New to Xcel is Celebrity’s first-ever Hydra Room, a warm, bubbling pool with massaging jets and heated lounge chairs, that compliments the Thermal Suite’s other therapeutic experiences, including steam and an ocean view sauna.
—Susan Barnes, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2025
Most dogs love the feeling of the rubber groomer massaging their skin.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
That merely meant coach Brian Dutcher didn’t have to delicately parcel out playing time while massaging egos on his Mariana Trench-deep roster, and the bench shortened by circumstance delivered a 77-45 win powered by a pair of true freshmen and a typically frenetic defensive effort.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025
Create some suspense and anticipation by going in slowly, starting with the head and just massaging it slightly with the tip of your tongue.
—Ian Kumamoto, Them., 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
My goal in my team building is to eliminate as many weekly lineup decisions as possible, but the player pool, injuries, matchups, and underperformance invite week-to-week massaging of all positions.
—Shawn Childs, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
The interior aims for a whisper quiet experience with acoustic glass, and features leather seats with heating, cooling and massaging functions.
—Tony Leopardo, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
The reality was hours spent tuning schemas, massaging formats and working with data that was stale before anyone could act on it.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
Just be sure to dilute it with a carrier oil like coconut or almond oil before massaging it into sore spots.
—Iman Balagam, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
These ads showed images of tractors, mountains of blueberries and a man’s hands massaging a clump of dirt, each segment highlighting a different part of the industry.
—Carolina Abbott Galvão, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026
Some people might allege conspiracy — that someone inside the agency is massaging numbers.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 4 Jan. 2026
Options like massaging seats and a third row are also available.
—New Atlas, 27 Dec. 2025
New to Xcel is Celebrity’s first-ever Hydra Room, a warm, bubbling pool with massaging jets and heated lounge chairs, that compliments the Thermal Suite’s other therapeutic experiences, including steam and an ocean view sauna.
—Susan Barnes, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2025
Most dogs love the feeling of the rubber groomer massaging their skin.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
That merely meant coach Brian Dutcher didn’t have to delicately parcel out playing time while massaging egos on his Mariana Trench-deep roster, and the bench shortened by circumstance delivered a 77-45 win powered by a pair of true freshmen and a typically frenetic defensive effort.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025
Create some suspense and anticipation by going in slowly, starting with the head and just massaging it slightly with the tip of your tongue.
—Ian Kumamoto, Them., 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for massaging
Noun
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Truth is, romance isn’t solely about the grand gestures and lavish courting.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
In addition to Air, the 2023 film about Nike’s courting of a young Michael Jordan, Convery is set to write the screenplay for The Tiger Slam, about Tiger Woods’ run of winning four consecutive major golf tournaments in 2000 and 2001.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
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In the black-and-white video, MGK could be seen holding his baby daughter's hand, stroking her fingers.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
25 Nov. 2025
-
At one point Eliot entered the TV room and found Abby with her head on Claire’s lap, Claire stroking her hair.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Hudson has heard from studio heads, producers and other past collaborators praising her work.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Jan. 2026
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In a post on X, Huberman shared the White House’s graphic of the new pyramid, praising the decisions that were made.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And Mike's wooing was not initially reciprocated – Claire was married, divorcing her first husband, Rachel and Dayna's father, when Dayna was a baby.—
Piet Levy,
jsonline.com,
18 Dec. 2025
-
The desperate wooing of Trumpworld figures has been evident with both men.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
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While presenting her with the RRHOF milestone, Roan gave a speech commending Lauper’s influence and advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Praise abounded for the 36-year-old, with three fellow veterans commending Rojas not just for his play, but also for his demeanor.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Due to a positive audience response to the pairing, the writers retconned the scene as a seduction, rather than rape.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
22 Dec. 2025
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For years, Laura's rape was treated as a sort of seduction — until 1998 when Luke and Laura's son Lucky (Jonathan Jackson) finds out the dark history behind his parents' romance.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Please join us in congratulating Erik on his new role!—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The couple met via Instagram DM when Rivera sent Herrold a message congratulating her on the success of the show’s first season in 2020.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This whiskey can, of course, be enjoyed without puffing on a cigar—that part of the ritual is completely optional—but it was made very intentionally by master blender Nancy Fraley and master distiller John Schrepel.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
27 Dec. 2025
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Out on break, puffing on a cigarette, Dana is sucker-punched by a patient disgruntled over his wait time.—
EW Staff December 5,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Massaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/massaging. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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