caressing

[kuh-res-ing]

adjective

1. gently touching, patting, or stroking a person or thing to show affection.

   She stroked my face—temple, cheek, chin, and then up the other side in a caressing, sweeping gesture.

2. touching or seeming to touch a person or thing lightly and in a way that calms or soothes.

   Over and over again, I repeated the figures until they became a caressing swash of sound inside my head and hummed me finally to sleep.

Other Word Forms

• caressingly adverb
• uncaressing adjective
• uncaressingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of caressing¹

caress ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

The video, which was partly recorded inside the prison, shows him caressing a fighting cockerel and freely chatting to fellow inmates.

From BBC

His opener - the competition's fastest goal so far - had the hallmarks of a player who had regained his confidence, taking a touch and caressing a fine finish into the far corner.

From BBC

This alleged improv moment led to Baldoni "caressing Ms. Lively with his mouth in a way that had nothing to do with their roles."

From Salon

Too many images of Trump weirdly caressing the flag were a turn-off, a revered American symbol cheapened into a prop.

From Salon

I no longer notice the flashes of lime green tape caressing door frames, encircling bathroom floors and smothering naked outlets.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bland 
• comfortable 
• cool 
• delicate 
• dull 
• gentle 
• low 
• mellow 
• mild 
• muted 
• pastel 
• quiet 
• smooth 
• soothing 
• subdued 
• sweet