Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

cherish

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of cherish

1 to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for

  • promised to love and cherish her husband forever
Synonyms of cherish

adore, love, worship
Words Related to cherish

adulate, canonize, deify, idealize, idolize

revere, reverence, venerate

delight (in), dote (on)
Phrases Synonymous with cherish

carry a torch for (or carry the torch for), fall for, lose oneʼs heart (to)
Near Antonyms of cherish

antagonize, displease

disapprove (of), disfavor, dislike

disgust, nauseate, repel, repulse, revolt, sicken, turn off
Antonyms of cherish

abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe

2 to hold dear

  • we shall always cherish the keepsakes that our grandmother left us
Synonyms of cherish

appreciate, love, prize, treasure, value
Words Related to cherish

delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), like, relish, revel (in)

admire, apprize, esteem, regard, respect, revere, reverence, venerate

enshrine, memorialize

adore, caress, dote (on), idolize, worship
Phrases Synonymous with cherish

set store by (or set store on)
Near Antonyms of cherish

undervalue

abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe

disdain, high-hat, scorn, scout, slight, sniff (at), snub

bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, decry, deprecate, depreciate, disparage, kiss off, minimize, put down, write off

abandon, forget, neglect
Antonyms of cherish

disvalue

3 to keep in oneʼs mind or heart

  • after all these years, she still cherishes the memory of her first summer romance
Synonyms of cherish

bear, entertain, harbor, have, hold, nurse
Words Related to cherish

cultivate, foster, nurture, support, sustain

carry, keep, maintain, preserve, remember, retain, treasure

cleave (to), cling (to), hug, stick (to)

brood (about or over), fixate (on or upon), obsess (about or over)
Phrases Synonymous with cherish

hang on to, hold on to
Near Antonyms of cherish

disregard, drop, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook

abjure, decline, deny, disdain, refuse, reject, repudiate, scorn

abandon, desert, discard, forsake, give up, part (with), quit, renounce, throw out

erase, expunge

Synonym Discussion of cherish

appreciate, value, prize, treasure, cherish mean to hold in high estimation. appreciate often connotes sufficient understanding to enjoy or admire a thing's excellence.
    • appreciates fine wine
value implies rating a thing highly for its intrinsic worth.
    • values our friendship
prize implies taking a deep pride in something one possesses.
    • Americans prize their freedom
treasure emphasizes jealously safeguarding something considered precious.
    • a treasured memento
cherish implies a special love and care for something.
    • cherishes her children above all

Learn More about cherish

  1. See words that rhyme with cherish Dictionary: Definition of cherish Spanish Central: Translation of cherish Nglish: Translation of cherish for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cherish for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up cherish? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

milieu

the setting in which something occurs

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. Spartan Red Cross Warns of Shelter Conditions

  2. hirsute RIP Burt Reynolds

  3. op-ed NYT Publishes Anonymous Piece

  4. collegiality Kavanaugh Mentions Word in Hearing

  5. mistrial Manafort Guilty on 8 Counts

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games