friend 1 of 2

noun

ˈfrend How to pronounce friend (audio)
Definition of friendnext
1
as in buddy
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in proponent
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

friend

2 of 2

verb

as in to befriend

Related Words

Dissimilar 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 friend
Noun
Both took the witness stand in days of testimony as defense attorneys Reid Kingsbury and Linda Parisi argued that Sergio Harris fired the first shots that killed Payton friend Turner and set the massacre in motion. — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 21 July 2026 In the middle, their friend J Mascis added percussion here and there, channeling the ramshackle precision of Dirty Three’s Jim White. — Brian Howe, Pitchfork, 21 July 2026
Verb
The discourse started to boil when the Duchess of Sussex declared to friend Mindy Kaling that her last name is now Sussex in season 1 of Netflix’s With Love, Meghan, which premiered in March 2025. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026 Sending his wife Luciana and all his family and friends our condolences. — Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for friend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for friend
  1. buddy
  2. proponent
  3. befriend
  4. colleague
  5. supporter
  6. associate
  7. confidant
  8. advocate
Noun
  • Laugh List scripts range in style, covering coming-of-age comedy, romantic comedy, historical comedy, political mockumentary, college comedy, dark comedy, and buddy comedy.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 July 2026
  • That night, Freddy and his buddies met Langley backstage after a performance in Oklahoma City.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of buddy
Noun
  • Some proponents suggest that prediction markets could be an alternative to insurance, especially as insurers pull out of regions at high-risk for wildfire.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • Bell won the All-Star Race last year and was a massive proponent of North Wilkesboro Speedway landing on the points schedule.
    — Alex Zietlow July 16, Charlotte Observer, 16 July 2026
Definition of proponent
Verb
  • Yes, many passengers on these upscale brief sailings enjoy a drink or two, but befriending a bartender isn’t the mission.
    — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 15 July 2026
  • The rapper personally befriended Hamilton and invited him to the family’s Easter celebration in 2015.
    — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026
Definition of befriend
Noun
  • Most of the deals with Hill’s former Cabarrus colleagues fell below that threshold.
    — Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
  • Sulej and his colleague Wojciech Pawlak from the Faculty of Geology at the Warsaw University are credited with discovering the skeleton in southern Poland in 2023 and coming up with the idea to invite volunteers to help with its restoration.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
Definition of colleague
Noun
  • Club legends Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler, Phil Thompson and Tash Dowie will be on the trip to attend various meet-and-greet events with sponsors and supporters.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Party leaders, Wangchuk’s wife and supporters accuse authorities of ‘abducting’ him to stifle a growing protest movement, as police flood main protest with barricades and paramilitary forces.
    — Aijaz Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of supporter
Verb
  • Coach James Ramsey announced Wednesday that pitching coach Matt Taylor was promoted to associate head coach, with assistant Josh Schulman named the team’s new recruiting coordinator.
    — Fisher Isbell, AJC.com, 23 July 2026
  • The department has reportedly been conducting a sweep of construction sites associated with contractors working on the Pfizer building.
    — Andrew Rice, Curbed, 23 July 2026
Definition of associate
Noun
  • Financial advisers now also act as friend, confidant and sometimes daily assistant to help clients manage their lives and reduce their stress.
    — Medora Lee, USA Today, 18 July 2026
  • Murphy remains a close confidant of Bass, according to a source with knowledge of the mayor’s office.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2026
Definition of confidant
Noun
  • The move quickly set off a firestorm, with immigration rights advocates accusing DOJ of trying to malign a dead man.
    — Josh Campbell, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
  • Nik Hunder is a policy analyst, researcher and safe transportation advocate based in Chicago.
    — Nik Hunder, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026
Definition of advocate

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Cite this Entry

“Friend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/friend. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of friend for Spanish Speakers

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