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pawing

VERB

touch roughly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

fondle

STRONG

clap claw clutch dig feel finger grab grate grope handle hit maul molest palpate pat rake rasp rub scratch search slap smite stroke

Antonyms

STRONG

guard let go make happy please protect

WEAK

manhandle

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.

Sunday’s most intriguing sporting event won’t be Ravens versus the Bills, or Lions pawing at Packers, or even the Jets facing off against their former yoga instructor, Aaron Rodgers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 7, 2025

Boots, a young black-and-white domestic shorthair cat, lies on his back, pawing playfully at the air.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2025

Even Stokes was prowling laps of the boundary on Thursday, like a caged tiger pawing at the ground.

From BBC • Oct. 10, 2024

All he’s doing with this feral pawing for a message is frittering that away.

From Slate • Aug. 3, 2024

She saw Calder pawing obliviously through their soggy clothing for his jacket.

From "Chasing Vermeer" by Blue Balliett