paw

verb

Definition of pawnext
as in to finger

Related Words

Relevance

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 paw In City’s eventful 5-4 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, Samuel Chukwueze scored the final goal of the game after Donnarumma unconvincingly pawed away Harry Wilson’s inswinging corner, despite no players really challenging him in the air. — Michael Cox, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026 Video of the attack released by the Department of Insurance shows what appears to be, to the casual observer, at least, a person in a brown bear costume entering a car and rummaging around and pawing at the inside. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2026 Most dog owners have likely experienced your dog pawing at your legs. — Zoe Denenberg, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2026 This is when deer go underneath a low-hanging branch, probably one to two meters off the ground, and paw up the soil beneath using their hooves. — New Atlas, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for paw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paw
  1. finger
  2. lip
  3. rub
  4. kiss
  5. hug
  6. nose
  7. stroke
  8. caress
Verb
  • Pointing fingers Unlike many states, Illinois splits regulations of funeral homes and crematories between two agencies, with IDFPR licensing funeral home directors and embalmers, and the Illinois Comptroller's office overseeing crematories.
    — Casey Toner, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The absence of an exchange leaves the reader fingering loose threads and, in the absence of plot, listening into tonal shifts and ruptures.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of finger
Verb
  • An ultra-fine, barrier-reparative mist, under-eye patches, and lip balms are also essential—tucked away in a pouch inside my Alex Mill tote.
    — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 19 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, Hyland, 35, shared a video of herself lip syncing the song on vacation in Puerto Rico with husband Wells Adams and friends.
    — Daniela Avila, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026
Definition of lip
Verb
  • One juror was rubbing his eyes as Sullivan talked, and another was clasping and unclasping his hands in his lap.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Danger, Olivo, and Mosco had just eaten by the gazebo and Damaris was rubbing her pup’s head goodnight, about to go into the shack.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of rub
Verb
  • Pattinson’s partner Suki Waterhouse, who cheered perhaps loudest after the credits rolled and leaned forward to kiss Pattinson as the crowd applauded his tour-de-force performance.
    — Ramin Setoodeh, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • In video obtained by TMZ, Bunnie Xo kissed 24-year-old reality star Dylan Wolf in Nashville at Jelly Roll's bar.
    — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of kiss
Verb
  • Hundreds of homes and businesses hugged the Trishuli River, which cuts a winding path through the Nepali Himalayas.
    — Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The donkey has a gentle demeanor, allowing 7-year-old Cole to hug her clumsily around her face.
    — Emily L. Mahoney, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of hug
Verb
  • Advertising nosed up 3% (impressions were higher, rates lower).
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Sometimes a small dog nosed in the door and curled up by the space heater.
    — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Definition of nose
Verb
  • But Kim stroked a walk-off single into left field in the ninth inning off Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott to give the Atlanta Braves a 6-5 victory over the Dodgers on Wednesday night.
    — Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Afterwards, as Cheogyal puts it, the spiritual leader stroked his head with compassion.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of stroke
Verb
  • In one video, pop singer Madison Beer was seen caressing Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert's face as if the two were shooting a scene straight out of a reality show.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Kikuko cried out as her father’s hand slowly caressed her chest.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of caress

Browse Nearby Words

Pavlovian
paw
pawed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Paw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paw. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All