regard 1 of 2

Definition of regardnext
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as in to consider
to think of in a particular way I wouldn't regard that offhand comment as a serious threat to your personal safety

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to anticipate
to give consideration to (as unexpected circumstances or contingencies) the judges regard the amount of effort and energy you put into the project in evaluating it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

regard

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noun

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as in glimpse
an instance of looking especially briefly flashed the young man an imperial regard that clearly indicated such behavior was out of line

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in reference
relation to or concern with something specified with regard to your request for time off, go ahead and take the whole week for vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb regard contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of regard are admire, esteem, and respect. While all these words mean "to recognize the worth of a person or thing," regard is a general term that is usually qualified.

he is highly regarded in the profession

In what contexts can admire take the place of regard?

The meanings of admire and regard largely overlap; however, admire suggests usually enthusiastic appreciation and often deep affection.

a friend that I truly admire

When might esteem be a better fit than regard?

The words esteem and regard are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, esteem implies greater warmth of feeling accompanying a high valuation.

no citizen of the town was more highly esteemed

When can respect be used instead of regard?

While the synonyms respect and regard are close in meaning, respect implies a considered evaluation or estimation.

after many years they came to respect her views

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of regard
Verb
She is widely regarded as Britain’s first Black supermodel of mixed heritage. Zac Ntim, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026 Global Citizen will release details regarding limited free tickets in the coming weeks. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
Now proven in that regard, there is a desire to prove it on the type of national stage the Heat rarely have been afforded this uneven season. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026 No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain. Makenzie Huber, States Newsroom, 12 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for regard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for regard
Verb
  • The new law will give the California attorney general earlier access to federal HSR merger filings, so the office will have more time to review and challenge anticompetitive mergers and give businesses earlier notice to address any potential concerns, according to Umberg’s office.
    Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 16 Feb. 2026
  • The reversal drew little public attention, and few outside the UK noticed any change.
    semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The first two paragraphs recalled the Holocaust, and noted that compiling a list of Jews as precedent thereto.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The iron-man mentality wasn’t much help in August (see stat to note), but 2025 saw Machado hit his 350th career homer and up his franchise-leading total to 194, surpass 2,000 career hits, earn his third Silver Slugger Award and start the All-Star Game at third base for the second time as a Padre.
    Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • To strengthen the economy, Texas must rein in local spending, increase transparency, expand audits of cities, counties, and universities, and consider local spending caps so taxpayers aren’t saddled with unsustainable obligations.
    Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Though she initially was considered missing, the urgency to quickly find Guthrie pulsed through the first days of media coverage because of her heart condition.
    Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The airport’s current name is widely recognized and respected, and altering it would only create confusion while diminishing the local identity.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Public policy can respect personal choice while also reflecting sound health priorities — especially when taxpayer dollars are involved.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • That unfurled into the most fundamental reason the wide world of sports will be descending on Kansas City this June and July, with 650,000-plus visitors anticipated even before the base camp announcements.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Yet even with this long history of violence, neither those who watched from afar nor those who took to the streets anticipated repression on this scale.
    Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Even the Dutch fans, forming a wall of bright orange all around the racing oval, clapped in admiration.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Van Rootselaar espoused admiration online for other shooters and was active on WatchPeopleDie, a forum where users share images of torture, rape, beheadings and other violence.
    Michael Loria, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • This 13-mile-long slice of Route 66 offers a glimpse into history, including 1920s roadside stores and a massive coal-shoveling machine that pays tribute to the state's mining history.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026
  • The world has gotten a glimpse of the fawning, skeezy shamelessness of his famous hangers-on, but not enough to criminally implicate them.
    Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The concept can also be called influence, echo, reference, etc.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The library functions as a growing catalog of extremophile organisms found in permafrost — a biological reference collection that didn’t exist until this research began building it.
    Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Regard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regard. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.

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