as in to pat
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner
gently caressed her hair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of caress
There’s a shot of Michele caressing her face, and another of Christopher fingering his wedding ring.
—
Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 28 May 2025
But Gallardo clandestinely documented her experience there; in the exhibition, a short, lo-fi video shows her hands slowly caressing those of Estela, an ailing senior citizen and former street worker who lived at Casa Xochiquetzal.
—Fabiola Iza, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025
The oversized and plush applicator caresses every curve of your smile for a smooth, high-shine finish, minus the stickiness.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 18 May 2025
The monologue touches Ellie, who caresses her girlfriend’s face.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for caress
Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 28 May 2025
But Gallardo clandestinely documented her experience there; in the exhibition, a short, lo-fi video shows her hands slowly caressing those of Estela, an ailing senior citizen and former street worker who lived at Casa Xochiquetzal.
—Fabiola Iza, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025
The oversized and plush applicator caresses every curve of your smile for a smooth, high-shine finish, minus the stickiness.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 18 May 2025
The monologue touches Ellie, who caresses her girlfriend’s face.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for caress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caress
Verb
-
It can be pat on the skin under the eyes, but should be used with extreme care.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
14 July 2025
-
As Stanway had passed back to her, the midfielder had patted the air in the universal gesture for ‘calm it down, there’s no rush’.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Facing two strikes, Ramírez stroked a single off reliever Jared Koenig into left field, bringing home two runs.—
Steve Gorten,
Miami Herald,
6 July 2025
-
In central Gaza, a boy stroked the face of his dead sister, 6-year-old Heba Abu Etiwi, in a morgue at Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Caress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caress. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share