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
Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 20 Jan. 2025
Yarden Gonen, her sister, who had traveled around the world in the past year to lobby for Romi’s release, jumps up and down in the video as the family hugs.
—Natan Odenheimer, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Danielle Dorsey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
In full Mummers Parade regalia, Kelce has a heart-to-heart with Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field — and gives it a hug.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hug 
Verb
Video shared by the Israeli military showed the young women climbing out of a Red Cross vehicle and smiling and hugging waiting Israeli forces.
—Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 20 Jan. 2025
Yarden Gonen, her sister, who had traveled around the world in the past year to lobby for Romi’s release, jumps up and down in the video as the family hugs.
—Natan Odenheimer, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Noun
Volunteers at the Pasadena donation drive greeted evacuees with a smile, and often, a hug.
—Danielle Dorsey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
In full Mummers Parade regalia, Kelce has a heart-to-heart with Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field — and gives it a hug.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hug
Verb
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Just weeks later, Jenna played coy about the ring when host Andy Cohen congratulated her and asked her to confirm the news.—
Esther Kang,
People.com,
29 Jan. 2025
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The couple announced the pregnancy on Christmas Eve on their respective Instagrams where several Chiefs wives and girlfriends congratulated them.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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If you are attacked by a brown bear, play dead and lay on your stomach with your legs spread and hands clasped behind your head.—
James Powel,
USA TODAY,
24 Sep. 2024
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The sports betting halls are reasonably active, though at a dozen gaming tables dealers stand and stare, waiting with hands clasped at the waist.—
Jonathan Rowe,
SPIN,
18 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The fuel propelling MicroStrategy’s success is its embrace and cultivation of volatility, the defining characteristic of its core asset.—
Nina Bambysheva,
Forbes,
30 Jan. 2025
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Then this week, Hines cemented her embrace of MAGA world by sitting behind her husband during his confirmation hearings to become the GOP president’s head of Department of Health and Human Services.—
Martha Ross,
The Mercury News,
30 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Deputies and firefighters called to Cattail Crossing Pond found a 63-year-old woman clinging to a chunk of ice in the freezing water at about 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacramento Bee,
23 Jan. 2025
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Cave moths clung to the walls, their tiny eyes glittering in my lamp’s beam.—
Gina DeCaprio Vercesi,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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That leaves just two more reliever spots up for grabs.—
Jen McCaffrey,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
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Corbet won the Golden Globe and probably has the most compelling narrative — the 36-year-old made his film for less than $10 million — but, not least because of the recent AI brouhaha surrounding the film, this prize remains up for grabs.—
Scott Feinberg,
The Hollywood Reporter,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The travel accessory uses a memory foam material on the inside to help support and cradle your neck comfortably while the strap ensures your head stays in place, meaning no uncomfortable head bobbing.—
Rylee Johnston,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Jan. 2025
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One of the first major highlights showed the moment Mei Xiang birthed a squealing Xiao Qi Ji and cradled her newborn cub.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA TODAY,
24 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near hug
Cite this Entry
“Hug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hug. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
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