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
  • Some of these practices have been reported on before, such as rubbing deodorant against colored pages from magazines to make eye shadow.
    — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The bigger claim making the rounds, that a few minutes of face rubbing can quiet your body’s stress response, is where dermatologists urge a little caution.
    — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of rubbing
Verb
  • Guests have reported footsteps in the attic, the feeling of someone stroking their face, a shower rode repeatedly flying off the wall and loud noises from outside the front door when no one is there.
    — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
  • There was only one other visitor, another mother stroking another small head.
    — Fran Moreland Johns, The Atlantic, 11 May 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
  • And at Mugler, the mood was set before the first look appeared, with screens beaming erotic footage that included mating snails, sweaty skin, a woman’s tongue and two people kissing.
    — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Across Argentina, fans who grew up watching Messi as their parents watched Maradona now carry him on their skin, in tattoos of him kissing the World Cup trophy.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of kissing
Verb
  • The fact that shoes are getting slimmer and slimmer may feel somewhat new, but the sole-hugging footwear is actually just a continuation of a popular style from the ’90s.
    — Renata Joffre, Glamour, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The hip-hugging silhouettes also provided a prime opportunity to show off oversized belts and bellybutton piercings.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of hugging
Verb
  • Want brainwave tracking and real-time cues nudging you toward deeper stages?
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Ilya’s urging to slow down and observe the safety protocols merely result in Sam nudging him aside, along with Mira for a time.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 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 12 Oct. 2026.

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