1
as in valuable
commanding a large price
caviar has always been among the dearest of foods
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in beloved
granted special treatment or attention
spared no expense when caring for and feeding her dear little dog
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in adorable
having qualities that tend to make one loved
a dear friend that I would do anything for
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in darling
a person with whom one is in love
I love you, dear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dear
Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Sep. 2025
In Kimetsu, anger and sadness over what has been taken away or lost, and the strong desire to protect what’s dear to you, drive the battles.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2024
Somehow the ethereal little dears were inapprehensible without words.
—Tom Wolfe, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dear
Adjective
Love Aaron Lineweaver, who’s one of my dear friends in this profession and in life.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Sep. 2025
In Kimetsu, anger and sadness over what has been taken away or lost, and the strong desire to protect what’s dear to you, drive the battles.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
At a recent event raising money for the Men Wear Pink campaign and for the Cincinnati Friars Club, another charity dear to Altenau's heart, the ambassadors climbed on stage and sang her a song.
—Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2024
Somehow the ethereal little dears were inapprehensible without words.
—Tom Wolfe, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dear
Adjective
-
For communication purposes, phones can be valuable tools for students during the school day, according to Toch.—
Arthur Jones II,
ABC News,
15 Sep. 2025
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Our expert take The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is an excellent business card with useful benefits, valuable rewards and a generous welcome bonus.—
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In the Season 1 finale, the Game Maker seemed to be two steps ahead of Morgan and Adam, and even kidnapped their beloved coworker Detective Lev Osman (Deniz Akdeniz), horrifyingly leaving him trapped at the bottom of a pool.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
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Joined by beloved Hallmark guest judges each week, one contestant will be sent 'home for the holidays,' while the winner lands a leading role in one of this year's Countdown to Christmas movies.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Chulianyouhuo Plus-size Pumpkin Long-sleeve Top This top's adorable pumpkin image is fun to show off, but it can also be worn as a bottom shirt with a lot of layers.—
Robin Raven,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Pets Alive Mama and Baby Turtle Go under the sea with Mama Turtle and her little ones with this adorable toy that brings them to life!—
Katrina Cossey,
Parents,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But the previous Emmy darling, which won 11 awards at the 2024 Primetime Emmys, didn't win any prizes during this year's show.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The Bulls were the early-season darlings of the Group of Five, thanks to back-to-back upsets over Boise State and Florida.—
Giovanni Malloy,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow’s e-mail newsletter turned e-commerce platform, monetized an all-natural life style, promoting raw-goat-milk cleanses and expensive organic cosmetics.—
Clare Malone,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Drone dilemma The US excels at building large, expensive weaponry, but most American soldiers lack the know-how for fighting with unmanned systems.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
At the time, Syed and his loved ones, who strongly believed in his innocence, had little hope that his conviction would be overturned.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
-
All of us experience upheaval, whether through health scares, layoffs, the loss of a loved one, an industry in collapse… the list goes on.—
Maggie McGrath,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Your liver also plays the very sweet role of regulating your blood sugar levels by releasing glucose and storing glycogen when appropriate.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The scent is smoky yet sweet, spicy yet smooth, dark but with an underlying lightness—the result of combining clean white musk with rose, tobacco, suede, and cumin.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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That should be a scary prospect for a kid like Cameron, who’s extremely close with his mother and brother, and remains in a ride-or-die relationship with his high school sweetheart despite his newfound fame.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
18 Sep. 2025
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Brandon Armstrong is married to influencer Brylee Armstrong, and Witney Carson remains happily married to her high school sweetheart, Carson McAllister.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dear. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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