Word of the Day:

February 14, 2026

canoodle

verb kuh-NOO-dul

What it Means

To canoodle with someone is to hug and kiss them in a romantic way.

// Two lovers were canoodling on a park bench.

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Canoodle in Context

“In one dining room, ruby-colored tufted banquettes sit under vintage-inspired chandeliers. In a private room, purple-colored walls give way to cocktail tables where couples might canoodle, sipping martinis.” — Sarah Blaskovich, The Dallas Morning News, 28 Mar. 2025

More example sentences

Did You Know?

The origins of canoodle are uncertain, but may have their genesis in an English dialect noun of the same spelling meaning “donkey,” “fool,” or “foolish lover.” That canoodle may itself be an alteration of the word noodle, used to mean “a foolish person.” (The fool noodle likely comes from noddle, a word for the head.) The guess seems reasonable given that, since its appearance in the language around the mid-19th century, canoodle has been most often used lightheartedly for playful public displays of affection by couples who are head over heels in love.

Test Your Vocabulary

Fill in the blanks to create a verb meaning “to kiss”: _ m _ _ _ h.

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