Synonyms of cherish

cherish

verb

ˈcher-ish 

1

as in to love

to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for

promised to love and cherish her husband forever

Synonyms & Similar Words

• love
• adore
• fall for
• carry the torch (for)
• worship
• idolize
• revere
• idealize
• carry a torch (for)
• lose one's heart (to)
• venerate
• reverence
• adulate
• canonize
• dote (on)
• deify
• delight (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hate
• despise
• detest
• loathe
• abhor
• antagonize
• displease
• dislike
• disapprove (of)
• abominate
• execrate
• revolt
• repel
• turn off
• sicken
• repulse
• disgust
• disfavor
• nauseate

2

as in to treasure

to hold dear

we shall always cherish the keepsakes that our grandmother left us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• treasure
• love
• appreciate
• value
• enjoy
• admire
• respect
• like
• prize
• relish
• revere
• regard
• set store on
• venerate
• reverence
• set store by
• memorialize
• enshrine
• delight (in)
• groove (on)
• fancy
• idolize
• revel (in)
• esteem
• adore
• caress
• dig
• dote (on)
• worship
• apprize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hate
• despise
• undervalue
• detest
• loathe
• abhor
• minimize
• forget
• slight
• disdain
• scorn
• depreciate
• disparage
• disvalue
• sniff (at)
• belittle
• abandon
• decry
• scout
• put down
• deprecate
• write off
• abominate
• neglect
• snub
• execrate
• cry down
• bad-mouth
• high-hat
• kiss off

3

as in to have

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

• have
• hold
• retain
• entertain
• cultivate
• harbor
• keep
• maintain
• remember
• bear
• preserve
• hold on to
• nurse
• treasure
• carry
• nurture
• sustain
• foster
• hang on to
• hug
• support
• stick (to)
• cling (to)
• cleave (to)
• fixate (on or upon)
• brood (about or over)
• obsess (about or over)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• forget
• ignore
• deny
• disregard
• refuse
• overlook
• drop
• neglect
• reject
• decline
• repudiate
• abandon
• discard
• scorn
• forsake
• renounce
• give up
• quit
• part (with)
• desert
• disdain
• erase
• abjure
• throw out
• expunge

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cherish different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of cherish are appreciate, prize, treasure, and value. While all these words mean "to hold in high estimation," cherish implies a special love and care for something.

cherishes her children above all

When can appreciate be used instead of cherish?

In some situations, the words appreciate and cherish are roughly equivalent. However, appreciate often connotes sufficient understanding to enjoy or admire a thing's excellence.

appreciates fine wine

When would prize be a good substitute for cherish?

The synonyms prize and cherish are sometimes interchangeable, but prize implies taking a deep pride in something one possesses.

Americans prize their freedom

Where would treasure be a reasonable alternative to cherish?

Although the words treasure and cherish have much in common, treasure emphasizes jealously safeguarding something considered precious.

a treasured memento

When could value be used to replace cherish?

The meanings of value and cherish largely overlap; however, value implies rating a thing highly for its intrinsic worth.

values our friendship

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of cherish

Nancy had been distraught when the honky-tonk crooner died, and cherished what seemed to be a genuine friendship with West in the immediate months after Jones’ death that quickly blossomed into romance. —Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025

These meaningful songs, cherished by both the members and MOAs, added a special touch to the concert’s finale. —Billboard Korea, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2025

Let go, forgive, live in the now, and cherish those around you this could’ve been our last meal. —Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025

But getting to the big game is the fun of this series that Chiefs fans will cherish when The Kingdom airs on Thursday. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2025