HUGGING Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

hugging

verb

present participle of hug

as in congratulating

to express to (someone) admiration for his or her success or good fortune she hugged herself for having made a killing on the investment

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in clasping

to put one's arms around and press tightly Grandma hugged the grandchildren good-bye

Synonyms & Similar 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 hugging After the game, where Wilson dominated yet again, leading all scorers with 36 points, along with 10 rebounds, Wilson was seen hugging team owner Mark Davis, as well as friends, and her mother, Eva Rakes Wilson. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Di Felice’s re-edition of the iconic vinyl mini skirts and jackets was an instant success, while his figure-hugging clubwear and boot-cut jeans cemented his reputation for a bold, distinctive style. — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026 This past year, slim-fit sneakers have been trending right alongside other form-hugging shoes like sneakerinas and soft-leather oxfords. — Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 29 Sep. 2026 Last week, Baldoni took to Instagram to share a video of himself hugging Rodriguez on the first day of preproduction for House of Guerrero. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026 The controversy surrounding Russini and Vrabel — who are both married to other people — began when photos published by Page Six on April 7 showed the two holding hands, hugging and lounging poolside at an Arizona resort. — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2026 The figure-hugging gown featured a high neckline and delicate cap-sleeve shoulders boasting an asymmetrical cluster of feathers and organza, which mirrored her slicked-back, spiky bun. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 20 Sep. 2026 Hargitay and Brunson were spotted hugging on the court after the game. — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 19 Sep. 2026 It was designed with a scoop neckline and a figure-hugging silhouette. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hugging

Verb

In between posts promoting her events, Campbell Ortiz frequently posted about her children, congratulating one daughter for graduating high school and wishing one son happy birthday and cheering on his basketball team.

— Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 23 Sep. 2026
Try sending a useful article, congratulating a client on a milestone, sharing an industry development or simply checking in periodically.

— Peter Burns, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of congratulating

Verb

But if the awards season goes as the streamer plans, a journey that began in Cannes with a rapturous standing ovation, could end with Los Javis clasping some golden statues.

— Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026
One juror was rubbing his eyes as Sullivan talked, and another was clasping and unclasping his hands in his lap.

— Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of clasping

Verb

The boomer’s reckoning Voeste grew up in Dortmund, the coal-and-steel city whose fate has long illustrated the dangers of clinging to an industrial past after its economics have changed.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Whether someone can survive in the water is also hard to predict, Leahy said, and depends on several factors, including the water temperature and whether the person is wearing a flotation device or is clinging to debris.

— Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of clinging

Verb

The catalyst was a headline-grabbing second-quarter loss of $154 million that likely sent trading algorithms to hit the sell button.

— Harvey Stober, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Lopez then attacked Hager, grabbing his holster, and the two men fought over the deputy’s service weapon, according to the arrest report.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of grabbing

Verb

The trend hasn’t gone away completely, with stars like Chase Infiniti also embracing certain design cues from the dance art stage.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
The four tribes partnering with Kalshi in California and Oklahoma add to a small but growing list of tribes embracing prediction markets.

— Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of embracing

Browse Nearby Words

hugger-mugger

hugging

hugs

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Style

“Hugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hugging. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of hugging

verb

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