as in loved
granted special treatment or attention
a cherished heirloom that has been in the family for generations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in adored
to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for
promised to love and cherish her husband forever
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in valued
to hold dear
we shall always cherish the keepsakes that our grandmother left us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in had
to keep in one's mind or heart
after all these years, she still cherishes the memory of her first summer romance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 cherished
Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 8 May 2026
With Grace, his cherished daughter, books framed their fleeting bond.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
For many Black Americans, the decision was a death knell for a cherished pillar of the Civil Rights Movement.
—Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
Nestled in western North Carolina between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this cherished piece of the Tar Heel State includes picturesque Sylva, historic Dillsboro, and the beloved 200-year-old resort community of Cashiers.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 3 May 2026
For many Black Americans, the decision was a death knell for a cherished pillar of the Civil Rights Movement.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
Even with Meyer’s many projects and clients around the world, placing works from the estate of Si Newhouse is a cherished assignment.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 1 May 2026
Over the next two years, Dodger became a cherished member of the household.
—Ryan Brennan
april 27, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
The residences were born out of necessity but have become cherished events for the thousands in the band’s cult.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 11 May 2026
As the years pass, Lillian is still remembered and cherished by her family.
—Sarah Dahlberg, NBC news, 10 May 2026
Irish was cherished as part of the new state’s heritage, and as a marker of distinction from its former colonizer.
—Big Think, 4 May 2026
Other Popular Types of Thyme Beyond culinary uses, some thyme types are cherished for their attractive appearance and strong, delightful aroma.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Apr. 2026
The youngest of her siblings, Clara is deeply cherished by her family who indulge her ethereal whimsy, telepathy, psychic abilities and endless curiosity.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
Their teachers see them not as representatives of intersectional identities but as unique individuals, each with his or her own heritages, curiosities, and passions—each child to be cherished and known.
—Steven F. Wilson, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
His legacy will be cherished forever.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Heirloom seeds are cherished in the gardening community for their historical significance and role in promoting biodiversity.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Grubs, the larval stage of beetles such as Japanese beetles and June bugs, are notorious garden pests that feed on the roots of cherished plants and grass.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 8 May 2026
With Grace, his cherished daughter, books framed their fleeting bond.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
For many Black Americans, the decision was a death knell for a cherished pillar of the Civil Rights Movement.
—Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
Nestled in western North Carolina between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this cherished piece of the Tar Heel State includes picturesque Sylva, historic Dillsboro, and the beloved 200-year-old resort community of Cashiers.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 3 May 2026
For many Black Americans, the decision was a death knell for a cherished pillar of the Civil Rights Movement.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
Even with Meyer’s many projects and clients around the world, placing works from the estate of Si Newhouse is a cherished assignment.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 1 May 2026
Over the next two years, Dodger became a cherished member of the household.
—Ryan Brennan
april 27, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
The residences were born out of necessity but have become cherished events for the thousands in the band’s cult.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
Since then, the ballroom scene has grown, becoming more competitive, and even entering the mainstream — somewhat controversially, for those who cherished it as an insular safe space — in TV shows, music videos and more.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 11 May 2026
As the years pass, Lillian is still remembered and cherished by her family.
—Sarah Dahlberg, NBC news, 10 May 2026
Irish was cherished as part of the new state’s heritage, and as a marker of distinction from its former colonizer.
—Big Think, 4 May 2026
Other Popular Types of Thyme Beyond culinary uses, some thyme types are cherished for their attractive appearance and strong, delightful aroma.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Apr. 2026
The youngest of her siblings, Clara is deeply cherished by her family who indulge her ethereal whimsy, telepathy, psychic abilities and endless curiosity.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
Their teachers see them not as representatives of intersectional identities but as unique individuals, each with his or her own heritages, curiosities, and passions—each child to be cherished and known.
—Steven F. Wilson, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
His legacy will be cherished forever.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Heirloom seeds are cherished in the gardening community for their historical significance and role in promoting biodiversity.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cherished
Adjective
-
When a family loses a loved one, the team fills the box with fingerprints, hair locks and heartbeat strips.—
Laura Berrios,
AJC.com,
7 May 2026
-
Skeletal remains are air-dried, processed and returned to loved ones as powder in an urn or shaped as stones.—
Dorany Pineda,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Khedarrion loved helping his family and adored his principal.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
-
Now, Bolles is adored by Broncos Country because of his ability, loyalty and toughness.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
As of 2024, Port Laredo accounted for 62% of the state’s land port trade, valued at nearly $340 billion, according to data collected by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.—
Joe Kottke,
NBC news,
11 May 2026
-
The result is a standardized way of comparing chocolate, allowing cacao to be priced and valued according to its quality.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
After an initial miss, Jefferson had four makes in a row, needing one save to clinch the win.—
Sarah Spencer,
AJC.com,
13 May 2026
-
Nurse, who has had to deal with multiple challenges during his time with the Sixers, will remain a constant, at least for the near future.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Or that Salieri once masturbated over his beloved piano in an unfruitful attempt to cure his writer’s block.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
8 May 2026
-
Even so, the coincidence feels like an anointing, long overdue for someone who has spent decades in just about every beloved franchise, quietly establishing himself as the most important—or at least prolific—person in genre entertainment.—
James Grebey,
Time,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Sterling’s call for a player’s home run became as treasured a part of a Yankees identity as an initial set of pinstripes or a championship ring.—
Ronald Blum,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
John treasured his role as the voice of the New York Yankees, and his enthusiasm for the art of broadcasting perfectly complemented our city and our fans.—
Ronald Blum,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The price of the precious metal has skyrocketed—briefly surpassing a record five thousand dollars an ounce earlier this spring—and, as Jennifer Wilson reports from the American West for this week’s special issue, this has led to a boom in prospecting not seen since the days of the forty-niners.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
Rihanna's sentimental piece, of course, will never go out of style; those meaningful moments will only be more precious as time goes on!—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cherished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cherished. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
