Synonyms for fondle
Definitions
- v. 1
To touch or stroke lovingly.
Mothers fondle their babies.
- v. 2
To grasp.
The lovers fondled each other.
Forms
- Past participle
- fondled
e.g. fondled → coddled, petted, pawed, cockered…
Choose the right word
To caress is less than to embrace; more dignified and less familiar than to fondle.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- paw This dog doesn't want to move because his paw hurts.
- coddle You shouldn't coddle her so much. She needs to learn to be independent.
- grab In case of fire, I would grab my flute and escape.
- clutch Tom pushed the clutch pedal down with his left foot.
By length
- 3 letters
- pet1, paw1, nim
- 4 letters
- hold1, grab1
- 5 letters
- touch1, shift1, seize1, dolly2, clasp1, grope1
- 6 letters
- clutch1, caress2, cocker2, pamper2, coddle2, cosset2, dandle
- 7 letters
- grabble
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (dolly2 = 2 syllables).