pawing

Definition of pawingnext
present participle of paw

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pawing
Verb
  • In the end, an Australian photographer claimed the top prize for capturing a tender moment of elephant seal pups nuzzling in a rockpool.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
  • The video shows his two pet dogs, with a mutt named Thunder in the lead, nuzzling open a sliding door to get outside into the yard.
    CBS News, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • And after rubbing it in and brushing it through, this product leaves virtually no residue or gritty feeling.
    Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Pruning saws are great for thinning Japanese maple or crepe myrtle branches that might be rubbing on each other, shooting in the wrong direction, or obstructing a walkway.
    Campbell Vaughn, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • She was later reunited with her dog, stroking him in stunned silence before being taken to the hospital.
    Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
  • 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
  • The basis of the important therapy stems from studies showing that holding and caressing an animal provides benefits such as relaxation, lower blood pressure, decreasing anxiety, and increasing positivity, according to the news release.
    Dawn Giangiulio, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Williams knows how to humanize this bare-bones vocabulary, minutely adjusting the voicing of a chord or caressing the last of a set of recurring motifs with a regretful ritardando.
    Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The two confirmed their relationship in the fall of 2021 after paparazzi photos leaked of the pair kissing inside a car.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
  • In the morning, the first thing Jenna says to her cabinmates, Alesia and Betul, is that Eddy was all over her the previous night, which led to kissing.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • When the Rockets called a time out, the Lakers bench all ran over to Doncic, hugging him, slapping him and James nudging him for a job very well done.
    Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
  • The mother of four stunned, wearing a long-sleeved, figure-hugging metallic dress to walk the red carpet at the Oscars after-party.
    Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • In the past 24 hours, surface winds have shifted to the south, not only helping to boost temperatures after the unseasonably cold start to the week but also nudging up humidity and dew point temps, which should diminish the wildfire threat heading into Thursday.
    Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Snap decisions may become necessary with this Moon-Mercury conjunction in your 10th House of Motivation, nudging you to name your goal and take that next step.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 17 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • All seems normal with this new potential job until the woman conducting the interview subtly reveals bruises on her arms and, not so subtly, starts fingering her kitchen knives.
    Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Dec. 2025
  • Using a fingering yarn when a knitting pattern specifies DK means your garment will end up much too small.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Pawing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pawing. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.

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