Crossword Genius

Hugging and dancing can be grim (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

embracing

'hugging' is the definition.
('embrace' can be a synonym of 'hug')

'dancing can be grim' is the wordplay.
'dancing' is an anagram indicator.
'can'+'be'+'grim'='canbegrim'
'canbegrim' anagrammed gives 'EMBRACING'.

'and' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for embracing that I've seen before include "Clasping" , "welcoming" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.
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