Word.ws English Dictionary

Synonyms of fondle

45 similar words

Another word for fondle is pet. Other synonyms of fondle are hold, seize, cling, caress and clutch.

Synonyms and similar words for fondle

verbTo touch or stroke lovingly.

  • dandle
  • petTo stroke or fondle (an animal).
  • touch upTo fondle or to grope someone, usually in an inappropriate way.

verbTo grasp.

  • clutchTo grip or grasp tightly.
  • grab
  • nim
  • begraspTo grasp around or about; grasp firmly, fully, or completely; apprehend.
  • begripTo grip around or about; get a grip on; grasp.
  • clasp
  • clench
  • clinchTo hold firmly; to clench.
  • clingTo hold very tightly, as to not fall off.
  • enclaspTo hold in (or as if in) a clasp; to embrace.
  • glaum dialectal
  • grabbleTo touch (someone) with one's hands or fingers, sometimes in a sexual way.
  • grasp
  • grip
  • hang on
  • hold onTo grasp or grip firmly.
  • hold tight
  • holdTo grasp or grip.
  • nab
  • seizeTo deliberately take hold of; to grab or capture.
  • strangleholdTo hold a tight grip or control.
  • takeTo grasp or grip.
  • beclasp datedTo clasp.
  • belock archaicTo lock up or lock in place; hold tight; fasten.
  • fang archaic, dialectalTo catch, capture; seize.

verbMore synonyms

  • canoodleTo caress, fondle, or pet (someone); also, to have sexual intercourse with (someone); to make love with.
  • caressTo touch or kiss lovingly; to fondle.
  • cossetTo fondle; to touch or stroke lovingly.
  • dallyTo caress, especially of a sexual nature; to fondle or pet.
  • dawt UK, dialectalTo fondle or caress.
  • faddle UK, dialectal
  • feel upTo grope someone, especially someone's breasts, in a sexual manner.
  • grope
  • pettle UK, dialectalTo fondle or pet; to pamper.
  • shift Ireland, slangTo engage in sexual petting with.
  • tiddle UK, dialectal
  • worshipTo touch, fondle, or kiss in an intensely sensual way.
  • chuckle archaicTo fondle; to indulge or pamper.
  • coax obsoleteTo fondle, kid, pet, tease.
  • fond obsoleteTo caress; to fondle.
  • nantle obsoleteTo fondle or caress.
  • smuggle obsoleteTo fondle or cuddle.

Meaning of fondle

  1. verb To touch or stroke lovingly.
  2. verb To grasp.
  3. noun A caress.

Full definition of fondle

fondle in other languages

Questions about synonyms of fondle

What is another word for fondle?
Fondle has 45 synonyms on Word.ws, such as pet, hold, seize, cling, caress, clutch, worship and take.
What does fondle mean?
Fondle means to touch or stroke lovingly.

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: fondle (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this page: “Synonyms of fondle.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/fondle. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.