fondles

verb

present tense third-person singular of fondle
as in caresses
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner a cat who enjoys being fondled by his loving owners

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fondles
  1. caresses
  2. pats
  3. strokes
Verb
  • The Princess Diaries star smiles, caresses her belly, then ducks out of the frame.
    — Redazione People, Vanity Fair, 19 June 2026
  • Those of us with a penchant for fashion have managed—not without effort—to put aside the knowing glances, caresses, and hugs to take in every detail of the look.
    — Arancha Gamo, Glamour, 7 June 2026
Definition of caresses
Verb
  • As another period begins, Achord pats Melton on the head and Melton pats his coach on the back.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Taken from their backside, the pair is seen carrying golf clubs as the former NSYNC star pats his son on the head.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of pats
Verb
  • When Robbie first strokes the plush walls, her Cathy stares with the appropriate mix of awe and terror.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 9 Feb. 2026
  • For an artisanal twist, look no further than Ezcaray Matisse throw that looks as if Georgia O’Keeffe applied the paint brush strokes herself.
    — Kristine Hansen, Architectural Digest, 8 Jan. 2026
Definition of strokes
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

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

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