1
as in loved
granted special treatment or attention
they poured gifts and affection on their darling child
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in adorable
having qualities that tend to make one loved
a darling child that any couple would want to adopt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in delightful
giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses
what a darling set of dishes!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in favorite
a person or thing that is preferred over others
for a while that candidate was the darling of the news media and could do no wrong
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sweetheart
a person with whom one is in love
anything you say, darling
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 darling
Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
The polished blouse is crafted from mulberry silk and spandex for a hint of stretch and has a darling tie-neck sash for extra flair.
—Ali Faccenda, PEOPLE, 7 Dec. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
The Illini will now face a Big Ten foe and Cinderella darlings, Iowa, in the Elite Eight on Saturday.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for darling
Adjective
Cozy floral lanterns are a darling way to spruce up your backyard, patio, or even kitchen table.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
The polished blouse is crafted from mulberry silk and spandex for a hint of stretch and has a darling tie-neck sash for extra flair.
—Ali Faccenda, PEOPLE, 7 Dec. 2025
Noun
Meanwhile, avant-garde heavy rockers Deftones became unexpected TikTok darlings and arena stars.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
The Illini will now face a Big Ten foe and Cinderella darlings, Iowa, in the Elite Eight on Saturday.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for darling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darling
Adjective
-
Fajgenbaum says six people have been treated with the drug so far, including five children, and all five children showed meaningful improvement — sitting up, engaging more with loved ones, and in some cases making gains that once seemed out of reach.—
Brad Quick,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
-
So the loved one ends up inside a vacuum cleaner and thrown out.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Read about the first-grade class that, in 1982, took a trip to tap a sugar maple, boil the sap, and share some adorable moments.—
Hannah Jocelyn,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Bolstered by fuzzy electric guitars, the song also provides the perfect moment for TWS to show off their aegyo — a quintessentially South Korean gesture of acting adorable that doesn’t always translate well overseas.—
Jae-Ha Kim,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Hall challenges my perspective (and my vocabulary) in delightful and sometimes devastating ways.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The smooth melody is joined by a charcheta and other experimental sounds, creating a delightful hybrid.—
Tere Aguilera,
Billboard,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Buccaneer is a traveler's favorite on Saint Croix.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Los Angeles came up just short of Super Bowl LX last season, losing to the eventual champion Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game, but the Rams are the odds-on favorites to win Super Bowl LXI next year.—
Megan Armstrong,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Following Nicholas Brendon‘s death at age 54, Charisma Carpenter is paying tribute to her onscreen high school sweetheart.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Down on the lower levels, cowboys and their sweethearts were up and out of their seats, like a late-night set at the Firehouse.—
Joey Guerra,
Houston Chronicle,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole just landed on the streamer and the nine-episode Scandi series focuses on his beloved Harry Hole novels, the troubled detective that launched the powerhouse Norwegian author’s writing career.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Now, the beloved lifestyle creator is making her biggest move yet — stepping from social media into the streaming world with her very own series on Tubi.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Fortunately for me—and for you, dear listener—Stephan Jenkins had an unexpected answer to that question.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
25 Mar. 2026
-
These two visions are dear to us and remain relevant today.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Leonardo da Vinci himself couldn’t have drawn up a sweeter draw.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The regional specialty features a thin crust, a slightly sweet tomato sauce and loads of cheese — provolone-and-mozzarella or just provolone.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Darling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darling. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
