| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | embrace |
| Synonyms: | affection, bear hug, bunny hug, caress, clasp, clinch, lock, squeeze, tight grip |
| Antonyms: | push, release |
| Main Entry: | caress |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | loving touch |
| Synonyms: | cuddle, embrace, endearment, feel, fondling, hug, kiss, pat, pet, petting, snuggle, squeeze, stroke |
| Main Entry: | caress |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | touch lovingly |
| Synonyms: | bear hug, brush, buss, clinch, clutch, coddle, cosset, cuddle, dandle, embrace, feel, fondle, graze, handle, hug, kiss, make love, massage, mug, neck, nestle, nuzzle, pat, pet, play around, rub, squeeze, stroke, toy |
| Main Entry: | cherish |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | care about deeply |
| Synonyms: | admire, adore, appreciate, apprize, care for, clasp, cleave to, cling to, coddle, comfort, cosset, cultivate, defend, dote on, embrace, encourage, enshrine, entertain, fancy, fondle, foster, guard, harbor, hold dear, hold in high esteem, honor, hug, idolize, like, love, nourish, nurse, nurture, pet, preserve, prize, revere, reverence, safeguard, shelter, shield, support, sustain, treasure, value, venerate, worship |
| Notes: | cherish means to be fond of, be attached to, while nurture means to bring up, help develop, help grow, or provide with nourishment |
| Antonyms: | abandon, denounce, forsake, not care, renounce |
| Main Entry: | clasp |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | fastener; hold on something |
| Synonyms: | brooch, buckle, catch, clamp, clench, clinch, clip, clutch, embrace, fastening, fibula, grapple, grasp, grip, hasp, hold, hook, hug, pin, safety pin, snap |
| Main Entry: | clasp |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | grab tightly |
| Synonyms: | attack, bear hug, buckle, clamp, clinch, clip, clutch, coll, concatenate, connect, embrace, enfold, fasten, glom onto, grapple, grasp, grip, hold, hug, pin, press, seize, snatch, squeeze, take |
| Antonyms: | let go, loose |
| Main Entry: | clinch |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hold securely; grab |
| Synonyms: | bolt, clamp, clasp, clench, clutch, cuddle, embrace, enfold, fasten, fix, grab hold of, grapple, grasp, grip, hug, lay hands on, make fast, nail, press, rivet, secure, seize, snatch, squeeze |
| Antonyms: | let go |
| Main Entry: | cling |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | attach to |
| Synonyms: | adhere, be true to, cherish, clasp, cleave to, clutch, cohere, continue, embrace, endure, fasten, freeze to, grasp, grip, hang in, hang onto, hold fast, hug, last, linger, squeeze, stay put, stick, stick like glue |
| Antonyms: | detach, let go, unfasten |
| Main Entry: | crush |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | compress, smash |
| Synonyms: | beat, bray, break, bruise, buck, comminute, contriturate, contuse, crease, crowd, crumble, crunch, embrace, enfold, express, hug, jam, kablooey, mash, pound, powder, press, pulverize, push, romp, rumple, squash, squeeze, squish, total*, trample, tread, triturate, wrinkle |
| Antonyms: | let go, release, uncompress, unwrinkle |