pawing

present participle of paw

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pawing
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
Verb
  • Plus, extra padding around the heel helps prevent rubbing during long days on your feet.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
  • Continue rubbing until the friction lifts the residue from the fabric.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 2 July 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
  • The couple posed for photos at the event, drawing attention to their gestating bundle of joy by framing and caressing Palvin’s belly.
    Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • Powell tried to open the stall door, and then began fondling himself, frightening the 11-year-old, who tried to leave, but Powell blocked him from getting out.
    Todd Feurer, CBS News, 6 June 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
  • The Emmy nominee and Grammy winner met in 2021 at a party and were later seen kissing on a date in Brooklyn.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 10 July 2026
  • Qualley was first romantically linked with Antonoff in the summer of 2021, after they were spotted kissing in Brooklyn.
    Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 8 July 2026
Verb
  • In a tunnel as both teams prepared to take the pitch for the pomp of the two national anthems, out of view of the crowd, Norwegian star Erling Haaland was hugging or dapping his opponents.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 12 July 2026
  • The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, overseen by the British military, said the ship had been traveling in a route hugging the shoreline of Oman.
    Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
Verb
  • Your 3rd House of Communication awakens as the intuitive Moon moves in, sharpening timing and nudging you to say what helps tasks move.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2026
  • And by nudging two other family members to put a hand on the wheel, everyone felt a bit of control.
    David Crown, Forbes.com, 2 July 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 13 Jul. 2026.

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