kissing vs hugging

kissing and hugging both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
kissing	Yes	No	No	No
hugging	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, kissing and hugging are synonyms defined as:

kissing and hugging: affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)

Other synonyms of kissing include caressing, cuddling, fondling, necking, petting, smooching, snuggling.

kissing (noun)	hugging (noun)
affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)	affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)