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pawing

verb

present participle of paw
as in nuzzling

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pawing
  1. nuzzling
  2. rubbing
  3. stroking
  4. caressing
  5. fondling
  6. kissing
  7. hugging
  8. nudging
Verb
  • West begins nuzzling her, and the two kiss.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 20 May 2026
  • 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
Definition of nuzzling
Verb
  • As far as technique, pressing is gentler on dry skin than rubbing or dragging.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Among other things, Noohu accused showrunner Ed Brubaker of rubbing his back and of making comments about running his hands through Noohu’s hair.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of rubbing
Verb
  • There was only one other visitor, another mother stroking another small head.
    — Fran Moreland Johns, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026
  • Alongside Cruise feeding and stroking his dying cat while walking around his mansion with his gut hanging out, there are shots of planes readying for battle and collapsing polar ice caps.
    — Brent Lang, Variety, 15 Apr. 2026
Definition of stroking
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
  • 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 caressing
Verb
  • The day before, he was accused of kissing and fondling a 15-year-old girl who was on the team, KTUL reported.
    — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026
  • On the same day Gilson sought protection, the mother of a 15-year-old girl filed a separate protective order alleging Duffey, a youth basketball coach, was seen kissing and fondling the teen while alone with her.
    — Staff reports, Oklahoman, 25 July 2026
Definition of fondling
Verb
  • Columnist Amy Kaufman wrote about how watching affectionate moments between the couple, such as a clip of them kissing, can trigger intense reactions among Swifties.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 24 Sep. 2026
  • In a world where kissing up and pissing down was, if not accepted, often tolerated as the price of doing business, Wayne dispensed grace in every direction.
    — Mike Hogan, Vanity Fair, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of kissing
Verb
  • Garlin was accused by members of the cast and crew of inappropriate verbal conduct, unwanted physical contact, including hugging and touching, and behavior that some employees described as creating an uncomfortable work environment.
    — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Last week, Baldoni took to Instagram to share a video of himself hugging Rodriguez on the first day of preproduction for House of Guerrero.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of hugging
Verb
  • Expect wearables and continuous glucose monitors to start nudging users to move within the 15-to-30-minute window after eating, replacing generic daily step prompts.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The fish folds its body, trying to turn or swim, the water nudging overtop.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of nudging
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.

Browse Nearby Words

pawed
pawing
pawky
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Cite this Entry

“Pawing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pawing. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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