Thesaurus results for BEAR-HUG

bear-hug

verb

ˈber-ˌhəg

Definition of bear-hug

as in to hug

to put one's arms around and press tightly elated team members bear-hugging everyone in sight

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 bear-hug Once Tyler and Beau got there to Victory Lane, right before the confetti popped and rained down and reminded Reddick that yes, this was real, and yes, Jordan was bear-hugging him, and yes, a childhood dream had come true — a new memory took place. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 16 Feb. 2026 Mamdani’s refusal to bear-hug Israeli leadership, which until recently was de rigueur for both political parties, has transformed him into the embodiment of a bogeyman for some Jews who live above 60th Street. — Hannah Seligson, Vanity Fair, 9 Jan. 2026 Williams celebrated by jumping onto the goal post padding and bear-hugging the upright, which earned him a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. — CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025 Aggies players were ecstatic with the triumph, high-fiving and bear-hugging each other and then shaking hands with fans young and old. — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 15 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bear-hug

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bear-hug

Verb

Shelley Strommen, one of the activists who has spearheaded the effort, hugged Gorman.

— Dan Kaufman, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026
As the end approached, families moved out, one at a time, hugging and saying goodbyes to each other outside their dorms.

— Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of hug

Verb

The new mothers clasped their babies close as a pack of teenagers ran through the park.

— Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026
In 1975, as Cold War tensions thawed, an American commander and his Soviet counterpart clasped hands in space after their spacecraft docked.

— Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2026

Definition of clasp

Browse Nearby Words

bear fruit

bear-hug

bear-hugged

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“Bear-hug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bear-hug. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of bear-hug

verb

Example Sentences

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