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Glite Dictionary
🤗 To rub gently 🐶 To search with nose 🛌 To snuggle close
to nuzzle

to nuzzle

11 3.4
To gently press the nose or face against someone to show affection
  • verb
  • /ˈnʌzəl/
translation icon : frotar con el hocico
  • Lindsey snuggled up to Della and nuzzled her shoulder affectionately.
  • nuzzled her neck
  • nuzzled her cheek
  • nuzzle his face

And I think of that feeling of the sensation, you know, of what it felt like to to have this creature that loved me, you know, nuzzling up next to me, right?

Examples

  • For an answer, he nuzzled her cheek with his cold nose.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • "Remind me," he says, nuzzling her neck, "to tell you about the dreams I had tonight."

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Let him nuzzle a little bit.

    Call of the Rockies (1944)

  • Everybody was sitting around and then you just came around with your fat head, nuzzling everybody, being all cute, making everybody laugh.

    Dog (2022)

  • With a half laugh, she nuzzled against him, then drew away.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • We stood there for fifteen minutes or so, holding, kissing, and nuzzling each other.

    Academic text (2009)

  • Near dawn, she was awakened by a stiff, warm body nuzzling up to her.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Bali Bali nuzzles up against the dog and they sleep together.

  • Stretched out beside Rosarita, Emiliano nuzzled her neck and stroked her huge belly.

    Academic text (2009)

  • The kitten nuzzled against my hand, asking for attention.

Synonyms

to caress
vsto nuzzle
55 3.4

To touch someone or something gently to show love

uses the front of the face to rub or push gently as affection
to pet
vsto nuzzle
54 1.0

To stroke an animal gently to show affection

uses the front of the face to rub or push gently rather than hand strokes
boop
vsto nuzzle
  • Texting
5 8.3

A light playful touch on the nose or cheek to show affection

is gentler and more steady, showing affection through rubbing rather than a quick playful touch
to canoodle
vsto nuzzle
  • Archaic
5 9.1

Kiss and hold someone in a playful or loving way

is milder, focusing on gentle face rubbing or pushing rather than kissing
to nose
vsto nuzzle
1 7.9

To touch the front of the face of another person as a sign of affection

is broader, gently rubbing or pushing the whole face rather than only tips

Antonyms

to push away
37 2.0

To move something away from you by pushing with your hands

How Affectionate

to cuddle
72 1.0
to snuggle
  • Informal
59 2.0
to pet
54 1.0
to nuzzle
11 3.4
to nudge
33 3.8

Surface Forms

nuzzle infinitive
nuzzled past
nuzzled past participle
nuzzling present participle
nuzzles third person singular

Etymology

Nuzzle comes from the idea of the nose pressing gently. So to 'nuzzle' someone is to rub or press your face or nose against them as a sign of affection.