hug 1 of 2

verb

ˈhəg How to pronounce hug (audio)
Definition of hugnext
1
as in to congratulate
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
2
as in to clasp
to put one's arms around and press tightly Grandma hugged the grandchildren good-bye

Synonyms & Similar Words

hug

2 of 2

noun

as in embrace

Related Words

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 hug
Verb
The beach is the stuff of postcards and paintings, hugged by cliffs with improbably radiant aquamarine water and a giant conical rock formation right in the middle of the bay. — Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2026 The dynamic duo giggled and hugged as curious onlookers took out their iPhones and started snapping away. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
Todd Schulte has been in the restaurant industry in Kansas City for nearly 30 years, much of it spent with food that feels like a hug. — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026 Kerry, still sheriff after 10 years since their first meeting, greets him warmly with a hug. — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hug
  1. congratulate
  2. clasp
  3. embrace
  4. cling
  5. grab
  6. cradle
Verb
  • Jolly, who’s been campaigning against divisiveness in politics, issued a statement congratulating Avila shortly after Tuesday’s announcement.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
  • In the letter, written after Eminem was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, Parton congratulated the artist on the honor and praised his performance that night.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of congratulate
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
Noun
  • Price likened his attraction to the format to his early embrace of streaming entertainment back in the days when Hollywood remained skeptical of its staying power.
    — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Her full-on embrace of a femininity that was simultaneously flamboyant and unapologetic was always a conscious move.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of embrace
Verb
  • Please pass some of that energy to the Braves, who are clinging to a thin divisional lead weeks before the postseason.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Some of them feel goopy, while others cling onto my pores for dear life.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of cling
Noun
  • However, his four catches for 97 yards and one touchdown — including an incredibly athletic 52-yard grab — have his name in a good spot going into this period of uncertainty.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The biggest star for Denver (2-1) was Schrader, the third-year running back who rushed for 42 yards and caught six passes for 90 yards, including the touchdown grab that made it 27-6 and capped a 17-play, 85-yard drive in the second half.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of grab
Verb
  • The device features flexible side wings that can fold inward to cradle the head and neck.
    — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
  • While standard flip-flops are generally relatively flat, these are made with plenty of arch support, along with deep heel cups to cradle your feet for full-day comfort.
    — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2026
Definition of cradle

Browse Nearby Words

huffy
hug
huge
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Cite this Entry

“Hug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hug. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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