cuddle vs hug

cuddle and hug both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
cuddle	Yes	No	Yes	No
hug	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, hug is a hypernym of cuddle; that is, hug is a word with a broader meaning than cuddle:

cuddle: hold (a person or thing) close, as for affection, comfort, or warmth
hug: hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness

Other hypernyms of cuddle include bosom, embrace, squeeze.

cuddle (noun)	hug (noun)
a close and affectionate (and often prolonged) embrace	a tight or amorous embrace

cuddle (verb)	hug (verb)
move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position	fit closely or tightly
hold (a person or thing) close, as for affection, comfort, or warmth	hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness