1
as in intimacy
the state of being in a very personal or private relationship
my cousin and I have lost that nearness we had when we were kids
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in proximity
the state or condition of being near
our nearness to the theme park has made us beloved by relatives from all over the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nearness
That tension—between nearness and distance, inside and outside—defines the film’s structure and tone.
—
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
The nearness of bees, and of other things that agitate most people, calms me.
—Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025
Overstating the nearness of human-level intelligence or ignoring ethical, safety, and energy concerns erodes trust and triggers backlash.
—Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
The nearness of bees, and of other things that agitate most people, calms me.
—Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025
Overstating the nearness of human-level intelligence or ignoring ethical, safety, and energy concerns erodes trust and triggers backlash.
—Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nearness
Noun
-
As long as the intimacy coordinators are being hired by the studio, my view of their role is that their job is to coerce the actors into doing things, as opposed to advocate on their behalf against the studio.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Abela speaks of this intimacy not only in music but in her own journey.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Grandchildren will appreciate the proximity of Legoland and Disneyland (about an hour's drive away).—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Because of its proximity to the mosque, many don’t realize that 50% of the pantry’s clientele is non-Muslim.—
Zareen Syed,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But considering the familiarity and the injury factor, this isn’t the worst-case scenario for the Jayhawks.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
16 Mar. 2026
-
So familiarity was definitely a factor here.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The only requirement is players must have their own bedroom and some space to store belongings.—
Melinda Moore,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Cortez said many people lost their belongings during the cleanups.—
Chaya Tong,
Austin American Statesman,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Hema listened to jazz music and attended dance concerts, forging intentional connections with Chicago’s modern dance scene — including a decades-long kinship with the Dance Center’s founder, Shirley Mordine.—
Lauren Warnecke,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
So that was kind of cool to have, in a way, that Michigan kinship.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nearness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nearness. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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