fondle

verb

fon·dle ˈfän-dᵊl

fondled; fondling ˈfän-dᵊl-iŋ

ˈfän-(d)liŋ

Synonyms of fondle next

transitive verb

: to handle tenderly, lovingly, or lingeringly : caress

She fondled the string of pearls.

obsolete : pamper

: to touch (someone or something) sexually

… one of them fondled her neck.—

Nadine Gordimer

Not long ago, the New York Police Department investigated a dentist accused of fondling his patients after putting them under anesthesia.—

Donna McCrohan

intransitive verb

: to show affection or desire by caressing

fondler

ˈfän-dᵊl-ər

ˈfän-(d)lər

noun

Examples of fondle in a Sentence

a cat who enjoys being fondled by his loving owners

Word History

Etymology

frequentative of obsolete fond to fondle

First Known Use

1721, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of fondle was in 1721

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Fondle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fondle. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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Kids Definition

fondle

verb

fon·dle ˈfän-dᵊl

fondled; fondling -(d)liŋ

-dᵊl-iŋ

: to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner : caress, pet

fondler

-(d)lər

-dᵊl-ər

noun

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fondle

verb

Synonyms

Examples of fondle in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near fondle

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition