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
Relevance
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
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
Elizabeth Mitchell Kadar, Glamour, 28 Feb. 2025
Unlike pyroclastic flows, which hug the ground, an ash cloud is airborne.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025
Matt Robison, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
As the show wrapped up, hugs and handshakes were had across the area.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hug
Verb
This suit stretches to comfortably fit sizes 2-8, hugging your curves in all the right places.
—Elizabeth Mitchell Kadar, Glamour, 28 Feb. 2025
Unlike pyroclastic flows, which hug the ground, an ash cloud is airborne.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025
Noun
News, the pair were seen holding hands before pulling each other in for a hug.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
As the show wrapped up, hugs and handshakes were had across the area.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hug
Verb
-
Stafford walked up to the podium, congratulated the team on its season and expressed his sympathy to those families in attendance who had been impacted by the Eaton fire that roared through Pasadena in January.—
Adam Grosbard,
Orange County Register,
5 Mar. 2025
-
Knight’s sympathetic response is interrupted when Rhonda (Kathy Searle), Briarwood's exuberant security guard, rolls up in her golf cart to congratulate the pair on getting back together.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Christian Eidson, Tench’s good friend of 10 years, silently wept in the courtroom — one hand clasping his lips and the other holding his round glasses in his lap — as Robinson appeared in a bright orange Mecklenburg Detention Center uniform.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Mar. 2025
-
The first lady's coin features a black and white photo of Melania smiling with her hands clasped in front of her face.—
Chandelis Duster,
NPR,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The embrace of home and family was woven throughout the evening.—
Chloe Malle,
Vogue,
8 Mar. 2025
-
With his embrace of tariffs and a foreign policy more openly grounded in the national interest, Trump can even be said to be purging consensuses on how things are done that have dominated Washington for decades.—
Varad Mehta,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Many elderly parents cling to their independence and their long-time home, viewing any suggestion of moving as an attack on their autonomy.—
Carolyn Rosenblatt,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
-
With Roosevelt clinging to a 52-50 lead, Burries made two free throws with 36 seconds left.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The Big Ten regular season title is up for grabs on Saturday night as No. 2 UCLA and No. 4 USC meet in a huge women's college basketball game.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
-
With the six-man rotation no longer in play for Opening Day the Red Sox have three bullpen jobs up for grabs, and there are probably seven or eight guys with a plausible path for a spot.—
Mac Cerullo,
Hartford Courant,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Along with images of the sonogram and baby clothes, a couple more snaps included Courtney in front of a white barn cradling her growing baby bump, one image by herself and another with Cole by her side.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
3 Mar. 2025
-
The video, which has garnered more than 256,000 views to date, captured the woman cradling the dog on a serene beach, highlighting a message of hope for shelter animals waiting to find their forever homes.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hug. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share