nuzzled; nuzzling
ˈnəz-liŋ 
ˈnə-zə-
1
: to work with or as if with the nose
especially
: to root, rub, or snuff something
2
: to lie close or snug
1
: to root, rub, or touch with or as if with the nose
2
: to rub or push gently against something
nuzzled her face against the cushion
Examples of nuzzle in a Sentence
The dog nuzzled my leg.
He nuzzled into her neck.
Recent Examples on the Web
He’s been spending a lot of time on his latest shoot nuzzling up to to Jodie Moreno (Blunt), the camera operator.
—
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024
Each mother never left her litter, not even to feed, and the hatchlings wriggled around on her back and nuzzled up to the end of her body.
—Sofia Quaglia, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
The second image shows Gaga using her nose to nuzzle Phoenix's through a pair of prison bars — seemingly marking the second time Gaga's nose has taken center stage in a major motion picture, after Bradley Cooper memorably traced his hand down her face at the beginning of 2018's A Star Is Born.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 14 Feb. 2024
Budweiser led the way: Who can object to a Labrador nuzzling a Clydesdale?
—Alan Murray, Fortune, 12 Feb. 2024
Sports Plaschke: Wrong-way columnist makes his Super Bowl LVIII pick, and the winner will be...
Feb. 9, 2024
Swift was posing for a picture with Ed, and nuzzled up to him.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2024
Video taken by the crew showed one of the killer whales appeared to be nuzzling the rudder; another video showed one of them running its nose into the hull.
—Jimmy Golen, Anchorage Daily News, 24 June 2023
But as more cats surrounded Mayer, nuzzling and licking each other, the more Cooper couldn’t hold it together.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 1 Jan. 2024
As part of a Make-A-Wish program with Keeneland, Cody was introduced to the then unnamed horse as a foal, who first nuzzled the boy’s hand before putting his head in his lap.
—John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2023
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024
Each mother never left her litter, not even to feed, and the hatchlings wriggled around on her back and nuzzled up to the end of her body.
—Sofia Quaglia, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
The second image shows Gaga using her nose to nuzzle Phoenix's through a pair of prison bars — seemingly marking the second time Gaga's nose has taken center stage in a major motion picture, after Bradley Cooper memorably traced his hand down her face at the beginning of 2018's A Star Is Born.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 14 Feb. 2024
Budweiser led the way: Who can object to a Labrador nuzzling a Clydesdale?
—Alan Murray, Fortune, 12 Feb. 2024
Sports Plaschke: Wrong-way columnist makes his Super Bowl LVIII pick, and the winner will be...
Feb. 9, 2024
Swift was posing for a picture with Ed, and nuzzled up to him.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2024
Video taken by the crew showed one of the killer whales appeared to be nuzzling the rudder; another video showed one of them running its nose into the hull.
—Jimmy Golen, Anchorage Daily News, 24 June 2023
But as more cats surrounded Mayer, nuzzling and licking each other, the more Cooper couldn’t hold it together.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 1 Jan. 2024
As part of a Make-A-Wish program with Keeneland, Cody was introduced to the then unnamed horse as a foal, who first nuzzled the boy’s hand before putting his head in his lap.
—John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nuzzle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English noselen to bring the nose toward the ground, from nose
First Known Use
1530, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near nuzzle
Cite this Entry
“Nuzzle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nuzzle. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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