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Definitions

caressing

[kuh-res-ing] / kəˈrɛs ɪŋ /
ADJECTIVE
soft
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bland comfortable cool delicate dull gentle low mellow mild muted pastel quiet smooth soothing subdued sweet
STRONG
diffuse
WEAK
ashen balmy cushy dim dimmed dulcet dusky hazy lenient light low-key mellifluous melodious misty murmured pale pallid pleasing restful shaded sober tinted toned-down twilight understated wan whispered
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agitated boisterous excited harsh loud rough strong troubled violent
WEAK
hard severe smart stern strict
NOUN
kissing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
embracing
STRONG
bussing necking parking petting smooching spooning
WEAK
lovemaking making out sucking face
NOUN
necking
Synonyms
STRONG
canoodling cuddling embracing fondling lovemaking parking petting smooching
WEAK
making love making out sucking face
NOUN
tickling
Synonyms
STRONG
stroking titillation

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

The video, which was partly recorded inside the prison, shows him caressing a fighting cockerel and freely chatting to fellow inmates.

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2025

With the cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, he shows them off beautifully, caressing them in light so that they look lit from within.

From New York Times • Apr. 25, 2024

She had her hands on either side of his face, caressing him, and then she pulled him into a hug.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.