1
as in buddies
a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another
really close friends who like to do everything together and are always sharing secrets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in supporters
a person who actively supports or favors a cause
hopes that the new governor will be a friend to environmental causes
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 friends
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2025
The second instance found Clark waiting for friends at Bemelmans Bar, dolled up for a party in an Alexander McQueen dress.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
The first thing that came to mind is my friends and family.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
One of Princess Diana’s closest friends, Lady Annabel Goldsmith, has died.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 20 Oct. 2025
In many regards, the evenings feel like a comfortable jam session with friends.
—Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
With hundreds of birthday and pink balloons in hand, Keiairra's friends and family gathered across the street from Prime Social to share memories and offer prayers at a balloon release memorial organized by Keiairra's twin sister, Keianna Travis.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Ziv Berman Ziv Berman, known to his friends as Zivi, was taken by Hamas from his home on the Gaza border, close to where his twin brother, Gali, was also kidnapped on October 7.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Not negative friends or bullies.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
Jack and his friends left $20,000 in tips, which comes out to a decent $1,818 each, though 1 million wouldn’t be enough.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2025
The second instance found Clark waiting for friends at Bemelmans Bar, dolled up for a party in an Alexander McQueen dress.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
The first thing that came to mind is my friends and family.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
One of Princess Diana’s closest friends, Lady Annabel Goldsmith, has died.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 20 Oct. 2025
In many regards, the evenings feel like a comfortable jam session with friends.
—Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
With hundreds of birthday and pink balloons in hand, Keiairra's friends and family gathered across the street from Prime Social to share memories and offer prayers at a balloon release memorial organized by Keiairra's twin sister, Keianna Travis.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Ziv Berman Ziv Berman, known to his friends as Zivi, was taken by Hamas from his home on the Gaza border, close to where his twin brother, Gali, was also kidnapped on October 7.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Not negative friends or bullies.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 13 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for friends
Noun
-
After the two buddies flirtily chat about Bruce Springsteen with a few women, Sean and Jonah run into a burning building to evaluate the damage and help residents who are trapped in the blaze.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The former band room buddies are attempting to remain even-keeled in the wake of their rise by staying focused on their collective goals and enjoying the moment.—
Devin Robertson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Both supporters and opponents see these early moves as test cases that are laying the groundwork for moving more of the agency's work to other parts of the government.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Given Swift's pop culture influence and massive fanbase, some football players, like JJ Watt, were supporters long before Swift debuted her first tunnel fit.—
Lex Goldstein,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Everyone associates that with us.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Hunger can be another motivator, especially if your feline associates certain times or behaviors with food.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While he is getting used to accepting the flowers given, his colleagues had bouquets to give.—
Essence,
Essence,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Rather than just adding up the contribution of each variant, Oram and his colleagues’ test incorporates the complex interactivity of various alleles with one another, including ones with protective effects.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
However, proponents of the bill say the veto will result in more exposure to toxic chemicals.—
Rachel Frazin,
The Hill,
14 Oct. 2025
-
My grandmas are big proponents of a few spritzes, but caution against too many.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While in pursuit of the role, Simon befriends fellow actor Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley).—
Claire Franken,
TVLine,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Writer-director Andrew DeYoung’s Friendship, which cast him as a lonely guy who befriends, alienates, then becomes fixated on a cool neighbor (Paul Rudd), has some great moments but falters midway through due to a predictable plot.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
One of the elder Van Praag’s friends and confidants is a football coach in Florida by the name of George LePorte.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
27 Sep. 2025
-
For Kendra Hilty, a TikTok user whose saga about falling in love with her psychiatrist has gone viral, her chatbots are like confidants.—
Josh Feldman,
NBC news,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Consumer advocates had argued that that was too broad a reading of the court order.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
19 Oct. 2025
-
In recent years, lawmakers, environmentalists, consumer advocates and California’s former top insurance regulator have pressed insurers to divest from fossil fuel companies and phase out writing coverage for oil wells, coal mines and other extraction projects.—
Ethan Varian,
Mercury News,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Friends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/friends. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share