as in stroking
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner
gently caressed her hair
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Recent Examples of caressing
Grudda pushed Barkow's wheelchair through the zoo, her hands caressing her mother's shoulders or pointing out the animals.
—
ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
The basis of the important therapy stems from studies showing that holding and caressing an animal provides benefits such as relaxation, lower blood pressure, decreasing anxiety, and increasing positivity, according to the news release.
—Dawn Giangiulio, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Williams knows how to humanize this bare-bones vocabulary, minutely adjusting the voicing of a chord or caressing the last of a set of recurring motifs with a regretful ritardando.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
The actor followed her around at several events related to the wedding, eventually caressing the back of her arm and pressing his knee against hers under the table.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Jan. 2026
The 39-year-old Nigerian-British actress hit the first official awards show of the season, donning a canary yellow gown and caressing her bump as the cameras flashed.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
In one instance, Alix leans in to whisper something in his ear while caressing his back.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 2 Jan. 2026
Weeping and caressing the lifeless Rahaf in her arms, the baby’s mother, Hejar Abu Jazar, kept ululating in despair.
—Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
The Young Pope star was seen caressing Coan’s back and whispering in her ear.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
The basis of the important therapy stems from studies showing that holding and caressing an animal provides benefits such as relaxation, lower blood pressure, decreasing anxiety, and increasing positivity, according to the news release.
—Dawn Giangiulio, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Williams knows how to humanize this bare-bones vocabulary, minutely adjusting the voicing of a chord or caressing the last of a set of recurring motifs with a regretful ritardando.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
The actor followed her around at several events related to the wedding, eventually caressing the back of her arm and pressing his knee against hers under the table.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Jan. 2026
The 39-year-old Nigerian-British actress hit the first official awards show of the season, donning a canary yellow gown and caressing her bump as the cameras flashed.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
In one instance, Alix leans in to whisper something in his ear while caressing his back.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 2 Jan. 2026
Weeping and caressing the lifeless Rahaf in her arms, the baby’s mother, Hejar Abu Jazar, kept ululating in despair.
—Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
The Young Pope star was seen caressing Coan’s back and whispering in her ear.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caressing
Verb
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Alongside Cruise feeding and stroking his dying cat while walking around his mansion with his gut hanging out, there are shots of planes readying for battle and collapsing polar ice caps.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
15 Apr. 2026
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Two-year-old Lily Capasso stopped by, stroking a small paint brush on the starting line – a sign that the world’s most iconic marathon is for everyone, no matter their age.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Kids love the hands-on steps here — scooping soil, patting it down around the plants and writing Grandma’s name on a tag.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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The Hall of Fame forward and all-time franchise leader in nearly every major statistical category walked into the arena with Timberwolves co-owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez after player introductions, receiving a roar from the crowd and patting his heart with his hand.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Caressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caressing. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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