BUDDY Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

buddy

noun

ˈbə-dē

Definition of buddy

as in friend

a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another my old college buddy is the one person I can always turn to

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 buddy My friend Lanni, a cancer survivor with two tattoos, volunteered to be my emotional support buddy. — Literary Hub, 17 Aug. 2026 Lanterns flips the superhero genre on its head by incorporating elements of buddy-cop dramas and Westerns. — Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026 My buddy Ballystar and I were in Hooters late one night on that trip. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026 But with that connection to Jack, initially forged as foster siblings but later as opioid buddies, comes risk. — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for buddy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for buddy

Noun

Nearly an hour after Nolan was last seen, friends on one of the boats noticed its bilge pump had failed and water was rapidly filling the hull, Tyler Cox and Edward Paltzik, attorneys for the friends, told CNN.

— Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Moehrig said there’s a mutual respect between the two players, who have become friends.

— Joseph Person, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of friend

Noun

Her pal, fellow local supermodel Gisele Bundchen, donated $1 million to the shelter in 2023; the funds were earmarked for a playground and educational programming.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Bourdain worked his way through the 1903 cookbook alongside his real-life pal, Dimitri (Stavros Halkias).

— Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of pal

Noun

Cohen would later act as Sun’s protector and confidant through the years of the Chinese Revolution.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
Rebecca seems sinister but is also tantalizing, especially to Eileen (Thomasin McKenzie), a shy secretary who becomes Rebecca’s… confidant?

— Chris Bellamy, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of confidant

Browse Nearby Words

budding

buddy

buddy-buddy

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Buddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buddy. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of buddy

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on buddy

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

tilde

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes