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
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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
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Recent Examples of hug
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2026
Tommy Lee, Anderson's ex-husband and the father of her two sons, was also at the event and was pictured hugging his ex-wife after the ceremony.
—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
3 July 2026
Will MacKin,
New Yorker,
28 June 2026
Ray worked his way out of the jam, then greeted Lee with a hug in the dugout.
—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hug
Verb
When the Chiefs won, the Grammy winner joined Kelce on the field, kissing and hugging him.
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Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2026
Tommy Lee, Anderson's ex-husband and the father of her two sons, was also at the event and was pictured hugging his ex-wife after the ceremony.
—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
3 July 2026
Noun
Red Beard knelt alongside a pig, kissed the top of its head, and gave it a hug.
—
Will MacKin,
New Yorker,
28 June 2026
Ray worked his way out of the jam, then greeted Lee with a hug in the dugout.
—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hug
Verb
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The State Department on Tuesday congratulated conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori after she was declared the winner of Peru’s presidential runoff election by a razor-thin margin.
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In 2010, on Respect for the Aged Day, Japanese officials sought out a Tokyo man named Sogen Kato to congratulate him on living to a hundred and eleven.
Verb
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Aabria, by contrast, leans on personality and connection, clasping hands with the jurors and complimenting them before calmly lying about the rules of the bra contest and her victory.
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As the service began, it was clasped shut.
Noun
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The couple embrace on a leather armchair somewhere in the home in this 1969 snap.
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Today, the country’s embrace of the technology is evidenced by the ubiquity of robots.
Verb
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While Top Gun had Cruise daringly fly and pilot fighter planes, Rogue Nation saw the actor cling onto one from the outside!
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Washing blueberries removes dirt and toxins that may cling to the fruit during handling and transporting from farm to store.
Noun
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Both teams’ stars came to play with top spot in Group K up for grabs, with the flair and technical quality on display making for a compelling watch with sweeping moves and 37 shots.
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In a battle of contrasting styles, Colombia takes on Ghana with a place in the Round of 16 up for grabs.
Verb
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On June 19, Hathaway casually stepped into the frame of her Instagram Reel in a white maxiskirt and matching blouse, dropping her arms to cradle her growing baby bump before walking out of the shot.
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On Wednesday, June 17, the journalist shared an Instagram post featuring herself in a New York Knicks jersey, cradling her sleeping newborn granddaughter, who was wearing a floral onesie.
Cite this Entry
“Hug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hug. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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