bear-hug

1 of 2

verb

bear-hugged; bear-hugging; bear-hugs

transitive verb

: to embrace in a bear hug

bear hug

2 of 2

noun

: a rough tight embrace

Examples of bear-hug in a Sentence

Verb elated team members bear-hugging everyone in sight Noun He gave his brother a bear hug.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
Recommended Why Republicans blasted Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr. – and bear-hugged Kash Patel That does not seem likely to overcome Mr. Trump’s preference for unilateral action over international engagement in remaking U.S. foreign policy. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Feb. 2025 But in his Instagram post yesterday, Zuckerberg bear-hugged the term, using it as a synonym for the entire practice of content moderation itself. Steven Levy, WIRED, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
His victim said the suspect grabbed her behind, put her in a bear hug, and ground against her for a moment before escaping down the street. Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2025 But Strong hardly cracked a smile as her team celebrated under the confetti, rolling her eyes and quickly trying to pull away as redshirt senior superstar Paige Bueckers forced her into a bear hug. Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bear-hug

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1907, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bear-hug was in 1837

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bear-hug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bear-hug. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

bear hug

noun
: a rough tight hug
bear-hug verb
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