1
as in congratulated
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 clasped
to put one's arms around and press tightly
Grandma hugged the grandchildren good-bye
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hugged
Gospel music played on speakers, family members served chicken soup, strangers hugged each other, friends left carrying several plates stuffed with leftover food.
—
Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
But when Joe gets pulled away by his old search-and-rescue squad mates, Slightly has to improvise and take advantage of the chaos in the lab caused by the eyeball, locking poor Arthur — one of the few adults on the island putting the Lost Boys’ safety above all else — inside to get his face hugged.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
In a video from their meet-up after the game, the Criminal Minds alum and the basketball star hugged it out.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025
In a video shared by Fox Sports on the social media platform X, several fans scrambled for the ball and eventually a man wearing Phillies gear stood up with it in hand and walked over and gave it to a boy and hugged him.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Lindenmeyer hugged the dancer before getting down on one knee.
—Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
After the Jaguars’ 26-10 win, the brothers exchanged jerseys on the field, hugged, talked, did the ceremonial brotherly things.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2025
During the ovation, Benny Safdie — the film’s director — hugged both his stars and joined Johnson in shedding tears of joy as the clapping continued.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 1 Sep. 2025
Nearby, a 4-year-old girl named Eva hugged a plastic dinosaur and a Frozen wand in her arms.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
But when Joe gets pulled away by his old search-and-rescue squad mates, Slightly has to improvise and take advantage of the chaos in the lab caused by the eyeball, locking poor Arthur — one of the few adults on the island putting the Lost Boys’ safety above all else — inside to get his face hugged.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
In a video from their meet-up after the game, the Criminal Minds alum and the basketball star hugged it out.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025
In a video shared by Fox Sports on the social media platform X, several fans scrambled for the ball and eventually a man wearing Phillies gear stood up with it in hand and walked over and gave it to a boy and hugged him.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Lindenmeyer hugged the dancer before getting down on one knee.
—Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
After the Jaguars’ 26-10 win, the brothers exchanged jerseys on the field, hugged, talked, did the ceremonial brotherly things.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2025
During the ovation, Benny Safdie — the film’s director — hugged both his stars and joined Johnson in shedding tears of joy as the clapping continued.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 1 Sep. 2025
Nearby, a 4-year-old girl named Eva hugged a plastic dinosaur and a Frozen wand in her arms.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hugged
Verb
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When the Niners clinched their spot in the coveted game, Brandt congratulated Purdy on the field.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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At the end of August, the All The Queen’s Men actress congratulated her man on his new law office in a warm and lengthy post on Instagram.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At the end, before Fallon reappeared, all pep and cheer, Forge clasped his hands together and closed his eyes, as if locked in prayer.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
18 Aug. 2025
-
There were only two worshippers, one in the water, hands clasped in prayer, and the other seated on the bottommost step, looking intently toward the river or maybe at the other bather.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Even when Pegula rediscovered her ability to smother Sabalenka with deep returns to her backhand, the Belarusian clung onto her serve.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
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Chaos erupted at Miami International Airport early Tuesday when a woman from England allegedly snatched a 4-year-old boy from his mother at a checkpoint, clung to him, and refused to let go—while insisting the child was hers, according to deputies.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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One partygoer grabbed a fragrance and practically bathed in the smokey orange accords of Rendez-Vous Ivory.—
Essence,
Essence,
12 Sep. 2025
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Natalia’s story grabbed the attention of the public in 2019 when Indiana prosecutors leveled charges against the Barnetts for allegedly neglecting a dependent.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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However, Edgell has since embraced baking full time, according to the outlet.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
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As the Internet, and now AI, enabled increased firms’ capabilities, and customers acquired more power in the marketplace, the most successful firms were those that embraced startingly different principles.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hugged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hugged. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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