hug 1 of 2

verb

ˈhəg How to pronounce hug (audio)
Definition of hugnext
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

hug

2 of 2

noun

as in embrace

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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
Verb
Multiple parents recounted a Christmas photo-op in which an ICE agent dressed as Santa Claus shoved away children who tried to hug him, then vanished with his treats the moment the cameras disappeared. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026 This was promptly followed by rapidly moving ground-hugging clouds of blistering hot gas and rock fragments, a phenomenon called pyroclastic flow. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026
Noun
This includes intimate physical contact with your partner, such as a 20-second hug or a six-second kiss. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026 In another clip, he was pictured giving his girlfriend a hug backstage. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hug
  1. congratulate
  2. clasp
  3. embrace
  4. cling
  5. grab
  6. cradle
Verb
  • An emotional moment was then shown between the three of them, as well as players coming up to congratulate him afterwards.
    — Hunter DeLauder, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • But instead of congratulating their long-time colleague, her co-workers, under the orders of their department head, urged her to think again.
    — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of congratulate
Verb
  • The new mothers clasped their babies close as a pack of teenagers ran through the park.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026
  • In 1975, as Cold War tensions thawed, an American commander and his Soviet counterpart clasped hands in space after their spacecraft docked.
    — Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2026
Definition of clasp
Noun
  • But the competition for the Golden Lion and the festival’s other awards is only the start of Venice’s wide-ranging embrace of the art of cinema in its many manifestations.
    — David Bloom, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Advertisement Wang can only hope that this tentative embrace of collaboration sticks.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of embrace
Verb
  • At the landing zone, with bullets whipping and cracking around them, Capers—barely clinging to consciousness—refused to board the helicopter until every last man, and his dog’s body, was aboard.
    — Ethan Rocke, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Any empty feeling at Empty Sky Caution tape clings to a fence outside the memorial, which honors the 749 New Jersey residents killed on 9/11.
    — Adi Guajardo, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of cling
Noun
  • There were still jobs up for grabs, roster spots in question and even unforgettable debuts.
    — Zach Berman, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • On the first drive of the second half, Brown hauled in a 21-yard grab across the middle on a second-and-15 to get Dallas out from behind the sticks for a first down.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of grab
Verb
  • The device features flexible side wings that can fold inward to cradle the head and neck.
    — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
  • While standard flip-flops are generally relatively flat, these are made with plenty of arch support, along with deep heel cups to cradle your feet for full-day comfort.
    — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2026
Definition of cradle

Browse Nearby Words

huffy
hug
huge
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Cite this Entry

“Hug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hug. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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