hugging

verb

present participle of hug
1
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
2
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 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 Lively included photos of herself embracing Reynolds, as well as a picture where she could be seen hugging one of her daughters. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 21 Aug. 2026 Many of those in attendance brought their own stories of mental health crises of their own or loved ones, with individuals in the crowd hugging and sharing with each other after the moment of silence Thursday. — Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 20 Aug. 2026 There are no roads linking communities along the more than 650 kilometers (406 miles) of Choco's coastline hugging the Pacific Ocean to the interior. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026 The clip showed the two hugging one another and showing off their outfits. — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026 This was promptly followed by rapidly moving ground-hugging clouds of blistering hot gas and rock fragments, a phenomenon called pyroclastic flow. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026 Right now, in half the rec rooms in the South, there is a framed picture of a middle-aged man hugging a 7-foot-tall plush animal that has a somewhat shorter math major crammed inside it. — Rick Bragg, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2026 While the coaster’s wheel assembly can be seen hugging the side of the track to secure it in place on cars 1, 4, and 5, the same wheel mechanism isn’t visible on the side of the track under cars 2 and 3. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hugging
  1. congratulating
  2. clasping
  3. clinging
  4. grabbing
  5. embracing
Verb
  • After the ceremony, Parton wrote Eminem a heartfelt note, congratulating him on the accomplishment and his performance.
    — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of congratulating
Verb
  • These feature the American Eagle on one side, clasping an oak branch in its talons.
    — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 20 July 2026
  • Their logo is an osprey, clasping a baseball bat in its talons.
    — Alanis Thames, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2026
Definition of clasping
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
  • The world’s next high-tech gold rush might start with a tiny organism clinging to a backyard rock.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of clinging
Verb
  • Two men bought tickets to enter Vienna's Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) before smashing a display case, grabbing a 200-carat platinum and diamond necklace and walking away, police said Friday.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In the commercial, Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark rushes over to his golf bag and pushes over golfer Alexis Miestowski to keep her from grabbing the Quantum Driver.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of grabbing
Verb
  • Its reinvention has been a remarkable one, and for now, investors seem to be embracing the new direction.
    — Arjun Kharpal,Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Even so, as the 2026 season comes to an end, Clark is not taking the route some other athletes in his situation might choose – embracing becoming the villain.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of embracing

Browse Nearby Words

hugger-mugger
hugging
hugs
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Cite this Entry

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

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