caress

His left hand clutches a silver teapot in a gesture midway between a caress and a grasp.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

One woman paused before the display and raised her hand to caress an image.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2025

Unlike in civilian life, where puppies often get food treats, in the military the only prize for a job well done is a caress and some praise.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 1, 2023

“Sometimes she’ll say, ‘Mariella,’ and she’ll caress my hand,” the pre-K teacher says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2023

Mammals characteristically nuzzle, fondle, hug, caress, pet, groom and love their young, behavior essentially unknown among the reptiles.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

In Ain Ebel's cemetery, Jallad caresses her son's tombstone, surrounded by women trying to comfort her.

From Barron's ● Mar. 16, 2026

We see Ella Fitzgerald at New York’s Basin Street East in the mid-1950s; her eyes closed, she gently leans into a microphone that she caresses with both hands.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025

She spots amaranth and caresses the diamond-shaped green leaves, commonly known as pigweed in English.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 2024

Within sight of the fierce flames Mohammed Atris caresses the fresh green shoots that cover his land.

From BBC ● Dec. 26, 2022

She turns to me and caresses my cheek.

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh

Two girls, their faces streaked with tears, gently caressed the face of a dead man, wrapped in a sheet with a floral motif, and then hugged each other tightly.

From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2025

During a performance at an Atlanta event in September, the “Ride With Me” rapper and his now-wife playfully caressed her stomach.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2024

One study even showed that healthy young adults who caressed a robotic baby seal were happier, and felt less pain from a mild heat stimulus, than those who read an article about an astronomer.

From New York Times ● Apr. 8, 2024

Not every chicken wants to be held, but many enjoy perching on a human shoulder or plopping down in an open lap to be caressed.

From Salon ● May 10, 2023

He caressed the shell respectfully, then stopped and looked up.

From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding

The couple posed for photos at the event, drawing attention to their gestating bundle of joy by framing and caressing Palvin’s belly.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 14, 2026

I even ponied up for a pay-per-view a few years back to see Mayweather spend eight rounds gently caressing Jake’s overmatched older brother, Logan.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026

Jareth is an illusionist as beguiling and seductive as he is sinister, caressing bubbles and gravity-defiant glass spheres with liquid grace.

From Salon ● Jan. 24, 2026

His opener - the competition's fastest goal so far - had the hallmarks of a player who had regained his confidence, taking a touch and caressing a fine finish into the far corner.

From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2025

She finished arranging her, stayed a few minutes talking to her and caressing her, and finally called in her husband and Father Antonio to make the burial arrangements.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende