1
as in valuable
commanding a large price
caviar has always been among the dearest of foods
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in beloved
granted special treatment or attention
spared no expense when caring for and feeding her dear little dog
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in adorable
having qualities that tend to make one loved
a dear friend that I would do anything for
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in darling
a person with whom one is in love
I love you, dear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of dear
Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
Oh, and also Brian Klugman, the director is a dear friend of my manager.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2024
Somehow the ethereal little dears were inapprehensible without words.
—Tom Wolfe, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dear
Adjective
The world of cinema so dear to Garavani started to approach the designer.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
Oh, and also Brian Klugman, the director is a dear friend of my manager.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
At a recent event raising money for the Men Wear Pink campaign and for the Cincinnati Friars Club, another charity dear to Altenau's heart, the ambassadors climbed on stage and sang her a song.
—Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2024
Somehow the ethereal little dears were inapprehensible without words.
—Tom Wolfe, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dear
Adjective
-
But Johnson was quick to remind players that, while adrenaline and desire are valuable, details become the separator in big games.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Although the divorce left Cher with limited immediate wealth, the royalty agreement proved to be valuable in the long-term, reportedly earning her tens of millions of dollars paid out gradually over decades.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
There are love letters to the dead in Lasky’s life interwoven into these essays, including to her father (a judge who died, slowly, from Alzheimer’s), her artist mother, her dog Lucy, beloved poet friends, Mayer herself.—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The set was comprised of songs from across the beloved group’s discography, including The Bends (1995), OK Computer (1997), Kid A (2000), Amnesiac (2001), Hail to the Thief (2003), In Rainbows (2007), The King of Limbs (2011) and A Moon Shaped Pool (2016).—
Andrew Flanagan,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Between Kim's eyebrows, Kendall's silly face and adorable newborn Kylie, Kris certainly had a full house.—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
-
To make these adorable wine cork place cards, cut a horizontal slit across the top of the wine cork and slide in a place card.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Sunshine Sale spans dresses, tops, skirts, shorts, and more, but some of our favorite finds include a darling cardigan to elevate your date night look, a breezy swing dress, and the cutest flare jeans that you’re bound to wear on repeat.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
6 Jan. 2026
-
First, the Art Institute invites Grammy darlings Third Coast Percussion to perform pieces for player piano by late architect Bruce Goff, the subject of a major retrospective running through March.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
That would be roughly twice the base price of the company’s most expensive factory model, the Phantom.—
Peter Valdes-Dapena,
CNN Money,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Most gamers will look at an expensive keyboard to enhance their play style but often overlook the mouse.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But after 9/11, Tagliabue showed a different side, particularly toward league employees who had lost loved ones in the attacks.—
NPR,
NPR,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Preserving income, insurance and retirement Financial security also depends on preserving income and protecting loved ones.—
Bruce Helmer,
Twin Cities,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
In October 2024, Wasdin celebrated Ashmore's 45th birthday with a sweet post on Instagram.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The Pats trusted their tight ends to handle Dolphins edge defenders on several occasions, and Henry did the job; not to mention his team-high five catches and sweet one-handed grab in the second quarter.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
His high school sweetheart, Lynne Anne Vincent, was the school’s head baton twirler and a straight-A student.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The high school sweethearts grew into a family of three over the years that includes their three children—Cordé, Cordell, and Cori Broadus.—
Essence,
Essence,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dear. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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