1
as in valuable
commanding a large price
diamonds and other precious stones
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cherished
granted special treatment or attention
parents who refuse to hear the slightest criticism of their precious children
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dear
having qualities that tend to make one loved
a precious friend for whom I would do anything
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 precious
Oprah put me on to this patent leather travel jewelry case, which keeps all my precious gems organized, safe, and secure.
—
Annie Blackman, InStyle, 21 June 2026
For the Mets, time is precious.
—Will Sammon, New York Times, 21 June 2026
An America that celebrates everyone as a precious contributor to the fabric of our national identity.
—Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026
Rather than having cluttered and mismatched products taking up precious space, Hamid recommends unifying products.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for precious
Annie Blackman, InStyle, 21 June 2026
For the Mets, time is precious.
—Will Sammon, New York Times, 21 June 2026
An America that celebrates everyone as a precious contributor to the fabric of our national identity.
—Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026
Rather than having cluttered and mismatched products taking up precious space, Hamid recommends unifying products.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for precious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precious
Adjective
-
Multiply that by half the web, and the most valuable real estate online stops being the billboard beside the content, but the tollgate in front of it.—
Renana Ashkenazi,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
The technology could address one of the biggest challenges in biomass recycling while creating a valuable source of renewable fuel.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
The San Francisco art and film community is mourning the loss of two cherished figures after Judith Sheldon, 84, and her husband, Wylie Sheldon, 86, were found dead Monday in a car parked off Interstate 5 north of Redding.—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
-
The siblings and their spouses, however, are frequent fixtures at royal family holidays and social events, with Mike describing riding in the Royal Procession at Royal Ascot as a cherished experience.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
The sound of gunfire sent people running for dear life.—
Naveen Dhaliwal,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
-
Almost instantly, an anecdote popped into my head that had been told to me decades earlier by a dear friend—a German Jew who had been born in Berlin early in the twentieth century.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
The administration formally accepted a luxury Boeing 747 jet from Qatar last year to be used as the presidential airplane, despite questions about the ethics and legality of accepting such an expensive gift from a foreign government.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 June 2026
-
Ratepayers would be required to pay for that, imposing a new and expensive burden on the people the proposal is intended to help.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
20 June 2026
Adjective
-
How can there be so much life bursting around you when your loved one has died?—
Liz Shulman,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
-
It’s chosen to mark a milestone, celebrate an achievement, or share a meaningful experience with friends and loved ones.—
Chris Perugini,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Don't lose a single adorable pound.—
Liza Esquibias,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
In Foster the Snowman, a couple without kids take an accelerated journey through every parenting milestone when they’re forced to adopt an adorable snowman whose whole magical life will play out in just 72 hours.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
But a competitive second half could not offset one costly early-game letdown.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
20 June 2026
-
That air should be JR’s vital collaborator — no complex and costly scaffolding for these magic mountains — is nothing new in Paris.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
Adjective
-
The vampire at the center of Rice’s beloved novels has flirted with music before.—
Precious Fondren,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
-
Keeping hope alive With their voices loud and signs up high, BCSB leaders, parents, and supporters rallied Thursday in an effort to keep their beloved school open.—
Dennis Valera,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Precious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precious. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
