Cuddling and snuggling

[mzrowan]

Without referring to any outside authorities*, but based purely on your own instincts, what is the difference, semantically, between snuggling and cuddling?

Poll

*In other words, first person to reference a dictionary gets smacked with it. ;-)

Comments

[coraline]

i am fascinated that at least thus far, people have similar connotations for snuggle vs. cuddle as i do :)

[lightcastle]

I'm fascinated that I go the other way and find snuggling less intimate/active than cuddling.

[keyne]

Me too.

[moominmolly]

first person to reference a dictionary gets smacked with it.

Wait, that's supposed to be a DISincentive? :)

[moominmolly]

You're right. Smaller dictionaries would just be annoying.

[spike]

Snuggling is more side-by-side while both (all?) facing mostly forward, ie, while "snuggling on the couch while watching a movie together".

Cuddling is a more an activity unto itself, and is often not performed shoulder-to-shoulder.

And if there's penetration, that's almost certainly cuddling, not snuggling.

[cinnabarine]

I was about to say the same thing. Cuddling with penetration is a bit like hugging with tongue.

[dbang]

Cuddling is something I do with my kids.

Snuggling is something I do only with adults.

[con_girl]

agreed

[plumtreeblossom]

I think of cuddling as more a horizontal activity, while snuggling is more upright. I would snuggle with someone on the couch to watch a movie, then if I liked them, we might retire to the bedroom for some cuddling.

[con_girl]

I think the opposite. I wonder if there is a regional variation