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
City News Service, Oc Register, 5 Apr. 2025
The new generation proves that slim and straight silhouettes, which still hug the leg but don’t feel quite so constricting, are the way to go.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2025
Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2025
Kenya even gives her a hug, and somehow, that’s still not good enough.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hug
Verb
Martinez had ordered him out of the room, but when Aguilar went to hug Black, Martinez shot him, the prosecutor said.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 5 Apr. 2025
The new generation proves that slim and straight silhouettes, which still hug the leg but don’t feel quite so constricting, are the way to go.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
After giving Oscar-winner and host Mikey Madison a hug, Wallen walked off the stage toward the side of the camera without acknowledging the other cast members.
—Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2025
Kenya even gives her a hug, and somehow, that’s still not good enough.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hug
Verb
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Residents Dan Lee was among those who congratulated House as well as village clerk and trustee candidates who ran on the Clean House slate.—
Mike Nolan,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
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Samira Nasr, the editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar, warmly congratulated the designer and founder of Fear of God in a manner that felt compelling.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In the audience, Wade Sr. nodded slowly, his hands clasped.—
D. Watkins,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2025
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The players’ victory cries echoing off the walls, Al-Khelaifi greeted each of them in turn, clasping their heads between his hands and bellowing his congratulations into their ears.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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And then probably a Sunday that ends among familiar shadows splayed across fairways, a long walk up Augusta’s 18th, a hat brim pushed up off his forehead, a final putt, a final roar, a teary embrace with his family, and then a 44 Long in green.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
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That innocent people are disappearing into El Salvador’s prisons is no secret—making the embrace of Bukele a disturbing signal of just how far a strongman can go without losing political ground.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Peterson and 10 other employees eventually fled the area, clinging to plastic pipes from a semi-truck, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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Delap has been a shining light for Ipswich this season, scoring 11 of their 30 Premier League goals to keep them clinging to their top-flight status with their fingertips.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The evening’s co-main event bout between Raymond Ford and Thomas Mattice also has a belt up for grabs.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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But behind the immediate market turmoil lies a more fundamental crisis, that of a presidential power grab which threatens our constitutional order.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Second to a lower-back tattoo depicting the sun cradled by a crescent moon, a belly button ring was the coolest body-modification trend of the ’90s and early aughts.—
Marianne Mychaskiw,
Allure,
9 Apr. 2025
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The Canadian dignitary, who's cradling Noah, agrees to consider sending her country's refugees back.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hug. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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