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 Bringing back toys in cereal boxes Remember pawing through your cereal boxes, hunting for the plastic toy at the bottom? — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026 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 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
  • China was fingered for a few more burdensome practices stemming from the regulatory environment.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Press the Union Valley with your opposite thumb and finger for 30 seconds.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of finger
Verb
  • This advent calendar will keep them stocked up on ChapStick lip balms through winter (and probably beyond).
    — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 3 Nov. 2026
  • 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
Definition of lip
Verb
  • For small spots and stains, gently rub them with an art gum eraser.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The simplest answer to how to wash fruits and veggies is to start with clean hands, then rinse produce under cool running water while rubbing it for about 20 seconds.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of rub
Verb
  • More recently, Morissette revisited her 2000 appearance on Sex and the City, in which her character Dawn kissed Sarah Jessica Parker's Carrie Bradshaw during a party game.
    — Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Peach-pink blush appeared high on her cheekbones, kissing her lower waterline, while a dark brown lipstick completed the look.
    — Arushi Jacob, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of kiss
Verb
  • The best boots that fit the trend are made of either soft leather or suede with a slim sole, intentional detailing, and a silhouette that hugs the foot.
    — Abby Hepworth, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2026
  • His baggy jeans, chest-hugging polo and Oakley raver sunglasses lend themselves better to the hipster neighborhood of Silver Lake.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of hug
Verb
  • Here, goats nose through massive piles of garbage left uncollected for weeks in the simmering 90-degree heat.
    — Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Out of frame, Ryan’s girlfriend, Carolina Mahedy, a former sommelier at Le Bernardin, nosed a glass.
    — Arthur Holland Michel, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of nose
Verb
  • White stroked a 3-pointer and waved his arms over his head to the crowd.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The young woman on the left strokes her hair and tells her not to be nervous.
    — Anna Griffin, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of stroke
Verb
  • The most sensual scene in the movie is actually a dance number at a public gathering where the two characters slowly sway and caress each other, much to the horror and confusion of the other townsfolk.
    — Whitney Friedlander, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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 11 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of valorous

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All