EN

Synonyms for fondling

  • noun

Most common

kissing hugging petting caressing

All synonyms

Noun

1. Caressing

caressing, kissing, petting, hugging, cuddling, necking, snuggling, dalliance

Other

pet

Definitions

  1. n. 1

    A pet or person who is fondled; someone who is much loved.

Related words

Word family
fondler

Forms

Plural
fondlings → caressings, kissings, pettings, huggings…

Choose the right word

Fondling or Caressing?

Fondling is always by touch; caressing may be also by words, or other tender and pleasing attentions.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

  • kissing Tom said he saw Mary kissing John behind the barn.
  • hugging Jessica saw a photo of John hugging another woman.
  • petting Stefan started petting Isabella's German Shepherd.
  • caressing She got wet when he started caressing her breasts.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
fondlingrising
kissingrising
huggingrising
pettingrising
caressingrising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters
pet1
7 letters
kissing2, hugging2, petting2, necking
8 letters
cuddling2
9 letters
caressing3, snuggling, dalliance3

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (kissing2 = 2 syllables).