as in joined
to become a friend to (someone)
He befriended the new student.
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Recent Examples of befriended
The murderer and writer Jack Abbott was in prison when Mailer befriended him, and went on to kill again after Mailer lobbied for his release.
—
James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
There, she was befriended by comics Buddy Hackett, Red Buttons, Jack Carter and Joey Adams.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026
This pup who befriended a nursing home resident struggling with loneliness.
—Kelsey Monstrola, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Born in Indianapolis in 1892, Flanner was a writer who befriended many of the biggest names in New York City’s literary circles before crossing the Atlantic and doing the same in Paris.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 18 Feb. 2026
During this same time, Duvall roomed with a fellow struggling actor who was a recent transplant from California, Dustin Hoffman, and also befriended Hoffman's California acting classmate, Gene Hackman.
—Christopher Watson, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
The following day there was a break in the case when Ricky Chavis, a local handyman who had befriended Terry and often took care of his sons while Terry was at work, brought Derek and Alex to the sheriff’s station.
—Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Just keep in mind, this is a place where Patti LaBelle befriended Indiana Jones.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Their friendship goes back over 20 years, when Kobo was a graduate student at New York University and befriended Hoffman at her sample sales.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026
James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
There, she was befriended by comics Buddy Hackett, Red Buttons, Jack Carter and Joey Adams.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026
This pup who befriended a nursing home resident struggling with loneliness.
—Kelsey Monstrola, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Born in Indianapolis in 1892, Flanner was a writer who befriended many of the biggest names in New York City’s literary circles before crossing the Atlantic and doing the same in Paris.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 18 Feb. 2026
During this same time, Duvall roomed with a fellow struggling actor who was a recent transplant from California, Dustin Hoffman, and also befriended Hoffman's California acting classmate, Gene Hackman.
—Christopher Watson, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
The following day there was a break in the case when Ricky Chavis, a local handyman who had befriended Terry and often took care of his sons while Terry was at work, brought Derek and Alex to the sheriff’s station.
—Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Just keep in mind, this is a place where Patti LaBelle befriended Indiana Jones.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Their friendship goes back over 20 years, when Kobo was a graduate student at New York University and befriended Hoffman at her sample sales.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befriended
Verb
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Two Republicans joined most Democrats in voting for the war powers resolution, while four Democrats joined Republicans to reject it.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
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Burchett and a handful of other Republicans joined all Democrats in voting to subpoena Bondi.—
Nicholas Wu,
semafor.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Notably, public health officials believe that the Placer County cases were the result of the patients being exposed to an extended family member who had traveled recently to South Carolina.—
Cecilio Padilla,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
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The Czech Republic, meanwhile, has sent two planes to Egypt and Jordan to bring home Czech nationals, dozens of whom have traveled by bus from Israel.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befriended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befriended. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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