as in joined
to become a friend to (someone)
He befriended the new student.
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Recent Examples of befriended
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
So, once again, is Spike (Alfie Williams), a plucky, soulful-eyed twelve-year-old, who was befriended by Ian in the previous film, and who was last seen being rescued from a pack of the infected by a strangely menacing benefactor, Jimmy (Jack O’Connell).
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2026
There was once a singer named Vince Taylor, whom Bowie had befriended in the mid-1960s.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner befriended Nanon Williams after seeing Lyrics From Lockdown, a play inspired by his life, in 2016.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
Freed hostages Keith and Aviva Siegel befriended two Israeli soldiers in captivity, creating a support system that helped all of them endure the terrifying experience.
—CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
In the finale, Poker Face drops the bomb that Harrison was also playing the world’s preeminent assassin, the Iguana, who befriended Charlie in order to find the mob snitch the Iguana was hired to kill.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
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
So, once again, is Spike (Alfie Williams), a plucky, soulful-eyed twelve-year-old, who was befriended by Ian in the previous film, and who was last seen being rescued from a pack of the infected by a strangely menacing benefactor, Jimmy (Jack O’Connell).
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2026
There was once a singer named Vince Taylor, whom Bowie had befriended in the mid-1960s.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner befriended Nanon Williams after seeing Lyrics From Lockdown, a play inspired by his life, in 2016.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
Freed hostages Keith and Aviva Siegel befriended two Israeli soldiers in captivity, creating a support system that helped all of them endure the terrifying experience.
—CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
In the finale, Poker Face drops the bomb that Harrison was also playing the world’s preeminent assassin, the Iguana, who befriended Charlie in order to find the mob snitch the Iguana was hired to kill.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befriended
Verb
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That balance of a decades-old history and a new brand’s need to establish itself in its own right shapes the leadership challenge facing Strazik, who joined GE in 2000 when it was still led by Jack Welch, one of the defining — and most debated — business leaders of the 20th century.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme in June 2025.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Los Angeles County public health officials recently confirmed three measles cases involving people who had traveled internationally, including one who flew into Los Angeles International Airport and visited Disneyland Resort.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
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There were also belts, buckles, and straps that snuggly wrapped around the shaft and traveled up her leg.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befriended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befriended. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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