as in joined
to become a friend to (someone)
He befriended the new student.
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Recent Examples of befriended
There was evidence that the two men, who’d befriended Brettler weeks earlier, had assaulted him shortly before his death – though neither was charged by police, who concluded that the death was probably suicide.
—
The Week Uk, TheWeek, 30 Apr. 2026
Scott befriended Serafini's wife in 2016 Five years before the 2021 shooting, Scott met Serafini's wife, Erin Spohr, through her horseback riding business, The Sacramento Beereported.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
In the 2008 storyline, Peanut (Jarryd Joseph) is part of the family, having been befriended by Cricket Foster (Roderick Randle) when both were in elementary school.
—Amy Reyes, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Hunt was previously in a relationship with Cody Keith, an ex-quarterback for East Carolina University who got a shot in multiple NFL training camps before seeing some interest in the Canadian Football League who had once befriended Patrick Mahomes.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Nurses who had befriended the musician and his wife were sending videos to Cimorelli where Gilbert was waving with his left hand.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2026
There, the University of Texas graduate first met and befriended Nicholas Hope Wilkinson, who cast her in one of his plays.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Hsu had befriended the theatre’s in-house carpenter, Dan Hoffman, who has worked there for twenty-three years.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
According to her complaint, Cosby befriended her and invited her to the show.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
The Week Uk, TheWeek, 30 Apr. 2026
Scott befriended Serafini's wife in 2016 Five years before the 2021 shooting, Scott met Serafini's wife, Erin Spohr, through her horseback riding business, The Sacramento Beereported.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
In the 2008 storyline, Peanut (Jarryd Joseph) is part of the family, having been befriended by Cricket Foster (Roderick Randle) when both were in elementary school.
—Amy Reyes, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Hunt was previously in a relationship with Cody Keith, an ex-quarterback for East Carolina University who got a shot in multiple NFL training camps before seeing some interest in the Canadian Football League who had once befriended Patrick Mahomes.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Nurses who had befriended the musician and his wife were sending videos to Cimorelli where Gilbert was waving with his left hand.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2026
There, the University of Texas graduate first met and befriended Nicholas Hope Wilkinson, who cast her in one of his plays.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Hsu had befriended the theatre’s in-house carpenter, Dan Hoffman, who has worked there for twenty-three years.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
According to her complaint, Cosby befriended her and invited her to the show.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befriended
Verb
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This week, Bonta joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general from mainly Democratic states submitting a comment letter to the Postal Service outlining their opposition.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
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The 26-year-old San Diego native previously joined SDFC as a Stage 1 selection in the 2024 MLS re-entry draft and was part of the club’s inaugural-season roster last year.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The highway death rate back then was around five deaths or less per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, which is higher than today, but hardly a death sentence.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
-
The teams flew together by charter to Minnesota for Games 3 and 4 but traveled back to Montreal separately Saturday.—
Stephen Whyno,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befriended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befriended. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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