as in caressing
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner
a cat who enjoys being fondled by his loving owners
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fondling
Antonio Burton, 37, was originally charged with child molesting when the defendant is at least 21 years old, a Level 1 felony, and child molesting, fondling or touching a child under 14, a Level 4 felony.
—
Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Worse is to come as Waaler insists on creepily fondling her cooling corpse — and makes Hole to do the same.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Worse is to come as Waaler insists on creepily fondling her cooling corpse — and makes Hole to do the same.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fondling
Verb
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Grudda pushed Barkow's wheelchair through the zoo, her hands caressing her mother's shoulders or pointing out the animals.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
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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
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
“Fondling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fondling. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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