fondling

[ fond-ling, fon-dl-ing ]

noun

1. the act of caressing or touching lovingly or tenderly:

   A few of us knitting enthusiasts met yesterday at Yarn Barn for a couple of hours of browsing, yarn fondling, and coffee.

2. the act of molesting someone sexually by touching or caressing:

   The inappropriate groping and fondling from a trusted adult male figure—her mother’s boyfriend—traumatized her.

adjective

1. touching or caressing in either of these ways:

   She stroked him with gentle, fondling fingers.

Other Words From

• fond·ling·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fondling¹

First recorded in 1580–90; fondl(e) ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun senses; fondl(e) ( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective sense

Example Sentences

It published a photo that showed a young girl, naked to the waist, pressed between two men who were fondling her breasts.

From BBC

Jones accused Gooding of fondling his “legs, upper inner thighs near his groin, the small of his back near his buttocks, and his shoulders,” which made the producer “extremely uncomfortable.”

From Los Angeles Times

There they stand, fondling automatic weapons and posing like a center spread in Guns & Ammo magazine, a collection of mugs, pugs and lugs.

From Seattle Times

She was also seen fondling the crotch of her date, who massaged her breast.

From Los Angeles Times

“It was for one of the Shakespeare histories and it was just close-ups of a man fondling his cuffs and touching his tie,” Kingsman said on a recent afternoon.

From New York Times

Related Words

• extravagance
• kindness
• leniency
• permissiveness
• privilege