verb

fondle

FON-duhl

Fondle (verb) means to touch or stroke gently and affectionately. Example: “She fondled the soft fur of the kitten.”

verb

To touch or stroke gently and affectionately.

"She fondled the soft fur of the kitten."

"He absentmindedly fondled the coins in his pocket."

How to use fondle

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo stroke or touch something tenderly, often repeatedly.

When to use it

Can carry a sexual connotation depending on context, so be mindful of tone.

fondled past tense, fondles plural, fondles singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “fondle” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ the soft fur of the kitten.

Built from fond ("loving") plus the suffix -le, which often marks a repeated or gentle action, as in "cradle" or "wobble."

canoodle caress chuckle coax cosset dally dandle dawt faddle feel up fond grope

want feel laugh pet pat fond woo persuade

What does “fondle” mean?

The word “fondle” means to touch or stroke gently and affectionately. In plain terms, to stroke or touch something tenderly, often repeatedly.

How do you pronounce “fondle”?

“Fondle” is pronounced FON-duhl (/ˈfɒndəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “fondle” in a sentence?

Here is “fondle” used in a sentence: “She fondled the soft fur of the kitten.”

What is another word for “fondle”?

Words with a similar meaning to “fondle” include canoodle, caress, chuckle, coax, cosset and dally.

What part of speech is “fondle”?

“Fondle” is a verb.

want feel laugh pet pat fond woo persuade