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
  • 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
  • The Canadian Coast Guard fingered the captain of the Størsad as the party responsible for the collision.
    — Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 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
  • Brush or rub about one-quarter of the sauce all over the chicken and corn.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Dampen a cotton swab with the alcohol and gently rub the ink stain.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of rub
Verb
  • Bear then passionately kisses Nikki, but soon collapses from the overdose and dies.
    — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The hearty meat is just barely kissed with a bit of mayo; enough to give it some zing but not overpower the meat.
    — Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of kiss
Verb
  • Mills was crowned the winner and the teammates hugged out their differences.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The audience broke into cheers during the impromptu duet and as the pair hugged before Sudeikis headed back into the crowd.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 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
  • Afterwards, as Cheogyal puts it, the spiritual leader stroked his head with compassion.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Leaders do not have the luxury of sitting in the corner contemplating their feelings or hoping someone will stroke their egos.
    — Chris Adams, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of stroke
Verb
  • Kikuko cried out as her father’s hand slowly caressed her chest.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • In the snap, Portman, who’s expecting her third baby, her first with partner Tanguy Destable, could be seen standing in front of an apartment balcony in an oversized blue button-down, caressing her stomach.
    — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 29 July 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 18 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on paw

Nglish: Translation of paw for Spanish Speakers

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of oxymoron

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

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

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
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
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All