pawing

Definition of pawingnext
present participle of paw
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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
  • Pettis took out a paper towel and began rubbing the paints together on the easel.
    Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 9 May 2026
  • Also, avoid rubbing the scent onto your skin, as this degrades the fragrance.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
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
Verb
  • Grudda pushed Barkow's wheelchair through the zoo, her hands caressing her mother's shoulders or pointing out the animals.
    ABC News, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • Oklahoma child abuse case against Morris The Oklahoma criminal charges against Morris were filed after he was accused of abuse by Cindy Clemishire, a then 12-year-old girl, the pastor had been accused of fondling, starting in the 1980s.
    Giles Hudson, CBS News, 12 May 2026
  • Antonio Burton, 37, was originally charged with child molesting when the defendant is at least 21 years old, a Level 1 felony, and child molesting, fondling or touching a child under 14, a Level 4 felony.
    Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • On May 12, Colbert sat down with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Pedro Pascal and wound up kissing both of them on the lips to the delight of his studio audience.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 13 May 2026
  • In another shot, Brittany shared a boomerang of Patrick kissing her on the cheek.
    Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • Sitting just to the left of the net with American goaltender Connor Hellebuyck still hugging the opposite post, MacKinnon sailed a wrist shot just wide of the pipes.
    Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
  • Goodell had some fun onstage, hugging Buck in the increasingly aggressive way that he has been known to hug players at the draft.
    Peter White, Deadline, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • Seven gentle touches later, each nudging the ball only a few inches at a time, was enough to paralyse Diouf.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 12 May 2026
  • The French hospitality giant that pioneered the concept in 1950 has spent the past two decades nudging it steadily upmarket, phasing out its midscale portfolio and focusing exclusively on premium properties, often in more complex categories.
    Ashlea Halpern, Time, 30 Apr. 2026
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 17 May. 2026.

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