as in to caress
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner
a cat who enjoys being fondled by his loving owners
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fondle
Verb
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There’s a shot of Michele caressing her face, and another of Christopher fingering his wedding ring.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
28 May 2025 -
But Gallardo clandestinely documented her experience there; in the exhibition, a short, lo-fi video shows her hands slowly caressing those of Estela, an ailing senior citizen and former street worker who lived at Casa Xochiquetzal.—
Fabiola Iza,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
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During her emotional testimony, Clark often patted her eyes with a tissue.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
27 May 2025
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Catcher Alexis Ramirez, seated next to Grant and Woolery in the interview room, patted Grant on the shoulder.—
Ben Bolch,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2025
Verb
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More often than not, viewers see these people stroking them, hitching rides on their fins, or free diving within inches of their faces.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
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When the researchers, who were funded by the N.I.H., used a wet paintbrush to stroke the rat pups — simulating the way a mother rat licks her offspring — these growth markers returned to normal.—
Alan Burdick,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Fondle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fondle. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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