Canoodle

/kəˈnuːdl̩/ · verb

Meaning

To caress, fondle, or pet (someone); also, to have sexual intercourse with (someone); to make love with..

Definitions by Sense

1. To caress, fondle, or pet (someone); also, to have sexual intercourse with (someone); to make love with.
2. To cajole or persuade (someone).
3. (intransitive) Of a person: to caress, fondle, or pet another person; of two people: to caress, fondle, or pet each other; also, to have sexual intercourse; to make love.
4. (originally US, slang) A caress, a cuddle, a hug.
5. A donkey.
6. A foolish lover; also (generally) a fool.

Example Sentences

He’s got a big smile on his face—who’s he been canoodling recently?

“There,” she cried triumphantly, when her labours were finished, “it [the drawing-room] looks different now, really quite effective and ‘canoodling’.”

And above all things, do not let her kanoodle you with soft words and looks of love, because she is full of 'em. If she can't scare you, with her indignation at the outrage of arresting and searching her, she will try to capture you and make you love her. You must be as firm as adamant.

He canoodled my husband into believin' that the end of the world was comin' and it was his duty to give all his property away.

Young Robin and my daughter. / ‘Canoodling’ too. This must lead to manslaughter.

Gerald Arbuthnot sat with her in the library all the time Jim was upstairs dying and they canoodled together on the sofa in front of the fire.

My mouth opened, ostensibly to tell him to stop this right now, I refused to kanoodle with anyone who wasn't my true love. I'd never know what I would have actually said, because he crushed his lips on mine, and my brain short-circuited.

Lydia nodded sagely. 'Our maid Doris canoodles with the postman when he comes round.' Agnes pulled a face. 'I don't know whether Megan canoodles, but she's in love with the coal-man. Personally, I do not know what she sees in him.[…]'

Synonyms for canoodle

Antonyms for canoodle

Related Words

Word Forms

• canoodles
• canoodling
• canoodled
• cannoodle
• conoodle
• kanoodle

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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