as in beloved
granted special treatment or attention
she had been the teacher's fair-haired pupil—the one who could do no wrong
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Recent Examples of fair-haired
The proud Westeros family of dragonlords have always been intent on making things bend to their (fair-haired, dragon-loving) will, even when the chips were down.
—
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 27 Apr. 2026
Amanda was feline and fair-haired; Emerald had the large eyes, thick black eyebrows, and neotenous features of an anime hero.
—Robert Moor, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Unlike the legend in Shakespeare’s Hamlet — whose rejection by the Prince of Denmark sparks her unraveling — this fair-haired singing socialite will not be losing the plot.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
Initially, instrumental music is playing, but once the band dies down, a fair-haired youth starts singing, countertenor-like.
—Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 27 July 2025
Legend has it that in 1327, Petrarch caught sight of a fair-haired, married woman named Laura in the church of Saint-Claire and fell head over heels, inspiring ardent daily writings of passion, anguish and ultimately despair.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 28 June 2025
Pavan was two months shy of 18, fair-haired and lanky.
—Mari Saito, USA Today, 20 May 2025
Emma has been some fabulous version of blonde for quite some time now, interrupting her fair-haired streak with the occasional brunette detour.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 3 Feb. 2025
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 27 Apr. 2026
Amanda was feline and fair-haired; Emerald had the large eyes, thick black eyebrows, and neotenous features of an anime hero.
—Robert Moor, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Unlike the legend in Shakespeare’s Hamlet — whose rejection by the Prince of Denmark sparks her unraveling — this fair-haired singing socialite will not be losing the plot.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
Initially, instrumental music is playing, but once the band dies down, a fair-haired youth starts singing, countertenor-like.
—Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 27 July 2025
Legend has it that in 1327, Petrarch caught sight of a fair-haired, married woman named Laura in the church of Saint-Claire and fell head over heels, inspiring ardent daily writings of passion, anguish and ultimately despair.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 28 June 2025
Pavan was two months shy of 18, fair-haired and lanky.
—Mari Saito, USA Today, 20 May 2025
Emma has been some fabulous version of blonde for quite some time now, interrupting her fair-haired streak with the occasional brunette detour.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 3 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fair-haired
Adjective
-
Or that Salieri once masturbated over his beloved piano in an unfruitful attempt to cure his writer’s block.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
8 May 2026
-
Even so, the coincidence feels like an anointing, long overdue for someone who has spent decades in just about every beloved franchise, quietly establishing himself as the most important—or at least prolific—person in genre entertainment.—
James Grebey,
Time,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
When a family loses a loved one, the team fills the box with fingerprints, hair locks and heartbeat strips.—
Laura Berrios,
AJC.com,
7 May 2026
-
Skeletal remains are air-dried, processed and returned to loved ones as powder in an urn or shaped as stones.—
Dorany Pineda,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
Nestled in western North Carolina between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this cherished piece of the Tar Heel State includes picturesque Sylva, historic Dillsboro, and the beloved 200-year-old resort community of Cashiers.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
-
For many Black Americans, the decision was a death knell for a cherished pillar of the Civil Rights Movement.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
Yet, amid all this anthropological interest in male behavior, a world beloved by men that is organized around the legacy of kings and a single precious metal has been hiding in plain sight, like a white Wakanda.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Despite taking the overall checkered flag in 1995, the automaker has precious little experience at the famous race.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
New episodes of Funny AF were released over the course of three weeks, culminating with the semi-final and finale airing live, during which viewers around the world were able to vote in real time for their favorite comic.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
-
Some of your favorite musical artists are sitting this tour cycle out.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Adorned with a darling floral print and fitted with two deep side pockets, this mini is both flattering and functional.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Stetson and Samuel -- my darling young men -- were sitting at the table, shoving and pulling one another in equally groggy measure.—
Shafiq Najib,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Nobody wants a grammar correction popping up in the middle of a sweet message from their partner.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
-
Initially shy and reserved, according to her foster family, Cindy Lou is learning to come out of her shell and show her charming, sweet side.—
Maryanne Dell,
Oc Register,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
Big Bear Valley's beloved baby eagles finally have names – and one moniker is a tribute to a dear friend of the nonprofit.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
-
McDaniels held onto Murray for dear life — often literally clasping his jersey — as the Nuggets tried to run him off every conceivable screen.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fair-haired.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fair-haired. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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