Cuddling Vs. Snuggling: What's The Difference?
Every couple knows there's nothing better than coming home after a long day and getting into bed to snuggle and cuddle up with your partner. We all have so many things going on during the day that being able to just relax with the one you love is totally something we look forward to. Not to mention, it's proven that cuddling up with the one you love can decrease depression and boost oxytocin in your body, which is known as the "love" hormone (via WebMD).
Many times, people believe that cuddling and snuggling are the same, getting to lay in each other's arms and hug, love, and smush up on one another. As long as we're intertwined with the one we love, they're totally the same — or so we thought. Everyone says "cuddle" and "snuggle" multiple times in the same context, but it turns out that cuddling and snuggling are actually different. There are a few things that make it possible to tell the difference.
The difference between cuddling and snuggling
Cuddling and snuggling may seem like the same thing to many people, but in simple terms, they're different. Some people often use them differently already, as many sometimes suggest that cuddling is romantic and snuggling can be platonic. And in true definition, it reigns pretty true (via Difference Between).
Cuddling is usually suggesting more of "handling," and using your hands. This can include more movement and even fondling, which is why it's almost always used romantically between partners. It can lead to more sexually intimate moments, as well. Snuggling, on the other hand, can be seen as more platonic. Think of snuggling with your grandmother, or even with your own children and pets. Snuggling involves far less movement and often times includes "burrowing." This means that when we are laying with a loved one, burrowing our head into their chest or on their shoulder, that's snuggling.
As with any words though, the definition is really in the interpretation. So, it all depends on who you ask and who you talk to.