as in caressing
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
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Recent Examples of fondling
Oklahoma child abuse case against Morris The Oklahoma criminal charges against Morris were filed after he was accused of abuse by Cindy Clemishire, a then 12-year-old girl, the pastor had been accused of fondling, starting in the 1980s.
—
Giles Hudson, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Antonio Burton, 37, was originally charged with child molesting when the defendant is at least 21 years old, a Level 1 felony, and child molesting, fondling or touching a child under 14, a Level 4 felony.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Worse is to come as Waaler insists on creepily fondling her cooling corpse — and makes Hole to do the same.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
Giles Hudson, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Antonio Burton, 37, was originally charged with child molesting when the defendant is at least 21 years old, a Level 1 felony, and child molesting, fondling or touching a child under 14, a Level 4 felony.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Worse is to come as Waaler insists on creepily fondling her cooling corpse — and makes Hole to do the same.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fondling
Verb
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The couple posed for photos at the event, drawing attention to their gestating bundle of joy by framing and caressing Palvin’s belly.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
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Grudda pushed Barkow's wheelchair through the zoo, her hands caressing her mother's shoulders or pointing out the animals.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There was only one other visitor, another mother stroking another small head.—
Fran Moreland Johns,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
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Alongside Cruise feeding and stroking his dying cat while walking around his mansion with his gut hanging out, there are shots of planes readying for battle and collapsing polar ice caps.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bill de Blasio had campaigned against aggressive policing, particularly the city’s controversial policy of briefly detaining people and patting them down for weapons.—
Elizabeth Glazer,
The Atlantic,
19 May 2026
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Agents executing a search warrant seized the phone and then found a second phone while patting Sprei down, Wang said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fondling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fondling. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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