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
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 nearness
The nearness of the zealous asteroid Eris in Aries adds a touch of drama and intensity to the cosmic atmosphere.
—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
10 June 2026
City officials say the project is complicated because of the nearness of the freeway and the Los Angeles River.
—
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
10 June 2026
City officials say the project is complicated because of the nearness of the freeway and the Los Angeles River.
—
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nearness
Noun
-
Excessive solitary masturbation decreases intimacy between couples in long-distance relationships.
-
That intimacy seeps into the music.
Noun
-
When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.
-
Now, proximity to the headquarters is no longer an automatic indicator of seniority.
Noun
-
Whatever people do with it, retirement should allow continuing some elements of old patterns in new forms, since continuity and familiarity matter.
-
In positions that require process discipline, communication skills, customer interaction, or familiarity with internal systems, that instability can affect performance in ways that are not always immediately visible.
Noun
-
Old wounds around social belonging may surface, pointing you toward more authentic connections.
-
But no series ostensibly for children has worked harder to guilt-trip adults into taking better care of their pets or belongings than the Toy Story movies, in which the mere act of putting away playthings is tantamount to mass murder.
Noun
-
An African nation bounded by the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to its north has prospered a kinship in a town located in a state literally smack-dab in the middle of America — a town whose new college football stadium is accented by light towers made to represent wheat.
-
Exploring themes of prejudice, kinship and resilience, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store earned the best book of the year title from a list of publications, including TIME and The New York Times.
Cite this Entry
“Nearness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nearness. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
