GLAD HAND Synonyms: 17 Similar and Opposite Words

glad hand

noun

Definition of glad hand

as in welcome mat

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of glad hand But for all the talk of South Carolina’s penchant for dirty tricks, the state also values the glad hand. — Sharon Lafraniere, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2024 Arguably the most notorious figure from the game’s most storied rivalry flew from his South Florida home to Boston for Tuesday night’s game and was expected to glad hand a few Yankees before, for many of them, the biggest game of their lives. — Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 5 Oct. 2021 Abbott took in his first term wasn’t as effective as Perry’s more glad handing approach to the job, Jillson said. — Allie Morris, Dallas News, 22 Mar. 2020

Recent Examples of Synonyms for glad hand

Noun

Europe rolls out the welcome mat Europe’s governments and institutions are eager to court America’s disaffected researchers.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026
Instead, Elizabeth wants her work to be a welcome mat into her weird, fantastical world where others can find people just like them.

— Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of welcome mat

Noun

Children—a rare sight at Trancoso’s small, intimate pousadas but welcome here—are kept busy by a discreet army of private nannies and hotel monitors.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
The rooftop bar looks over Hyde Park, lending a welcome (and rather rare) sense of openness in central London, while ABC Kitchen—the London outpost of the New York restaurant famed for its crab toast—brings in a high-flying food crowd.

— Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of welcome

Browse Nearby Words

glades

glad hand

glad-hander

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Glad hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glad%20hand. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of glad hand

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inscrutable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes