caressEnglishOxford American Thesauruscaress verb his hands caressed her back: stroke, touch, fondle, brush, skim, pet, pat, nuzzle, kiss; cuddle, embrace, hug.noun she enjoyed the light caress of his fingers: stroke, stroking, touch, touching, fondle, fondling, skim, pat, nuzzle, nuzzling, kiss; cuddle, embrace, hug.