pawing

verb

present participle of paw
as in nuzzling

Related Words

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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
  • Schmitt was visibly shaken up and could be seen rubbing his left knee in discomfort.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 28 July 2026
  • About 30 seconds under running water, while gently rubbing the produce with your hands, does far more than a passive soak.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 27 July 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 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
  • Pulling out the rocket launcher Mac had bought him on the dark web, Dennis was genuinely overcome, caressing his bucket-list war weapon in stunned gratitude, while Mac beamed in what, on any other show, would be heartwarming friendship.
    — Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 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
  • More recently, Bunnie Xo spoke about kissing someone else over the July 4th holiday — at Jelly Roll’s Nashville bar — and how the country star reacted.
    — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 31 July 2026
  • The bronze is reportedly stained lipstick-pink from fans kissing it.
    — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of kissing
Verb
  • The restaurant posted a photo on Instagram of the 80-year-old actor hugging family member Zurella Lancarte.
    — Jake Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
  • Was that a deliberate message in terms of not hugging or saying goodbye to the icons or the Kamu, Chuk, Haley trio?
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 31 July 2026
Definition of hugging
Verb
  • The Mancunian likes to lurk at the back post and is clever at nudging defenders to put them off-balance.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 27 July 2026
  • Instead of nudging people towards Zionism, such coalitions are pulling progressive politicians more towards the pro-Palestine camp with each special election.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 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 3 Aug. 2026.

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