1
as in loved
granted special treatment or attention
they poured gifts and affection on their darling child
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in adorable
having qualities that tend to make one loved
a darling child that any couple would want to adopt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in delightful
giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses
what a darling set of dishes!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in favorite
a person or thing that is preferred over others
for a while that candidate was the darling of the news media and could do no wrong
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sweetheart
a person with whom one is in love
anything you say, darling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of darling
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 3 Dec. 2025
That was especially the case with Cam Schlittler, the darling rookie of the Wild Card round who shut down the Boston Red Sox to help his squad move on in the postseason.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
And, increasingly, many are mounting charm offenses on X in the hopes of becoming MAGA darlings.
—Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for darling
Adjective
Who wouldn’t buy anything O’Connor, with his darling secret smile, tells them?
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 3 Dec. 2025
That was especially the case with Cam Schlittler, the darling rookie of the Wild Card round who shut down the Boston Red Sox to help his squad move on in the postseason.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
This year’s festival darling—winning both of Sundance’s top honors, the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize—is a masterful drama about a harrowing event.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
And, increasingly, many are mounting charm offenses on X in the hopes of becoming MAGA darlings.
—Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for darling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darling
Adjective
-
Grateful for time away with loved ones.—
Julie Hinds,
Freep.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Such a quick commute and maintaining close ties with loved ones clearly worked in Chelsea’s favour.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Below, find ten festive and adorable spring items to brighten up your Southern home in the coming months.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
19 Feb. 2026
-
In Australia, her favorite has been the wombat, the adorable, mostly nocturnal marsupial.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The omakase experience is delightful, and Shinya Takahashi's talent is impressive—almost as impressive as the fact that he's taught himself English in a couple of years via watching YouTube videos (all while raising five children).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
-
This delightful stop-motion comedy from the world of Wallace & Gromit brilliantly tells its story without a word of dialogue.—
Danny Horn,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The all-year-round surf scene here is so attractive that it’s even famed for being a regular favorite of Morocco’s royal heirs.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Still, a flurry of moves during the summer window made LAFC among the obvious favorites to compete for the league championship, primarily because Son’s influence made Cherundolo’s defend-and-transition tactics lethal.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The reverend is survived by his college sweetheart, Jacqueline Jackson, to whom he’d been married since 1962.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Savor wine tastings and pairings, tours, intimate accommodations, romantic dinners, live music and beyond with your sweetheart.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
La España, one of the area’s most beloved panaderías, is a short walk away, and Latidos coffee shop is right next door for an easy morning stop.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
-
His arrest also poses a serious reputational and constitutional risk for the monarchy, whose popularity has declined following the death of the beloved Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The union of these two worlds has created a unique garden that revisits this culture and these ancestral Japanese customs with the flowers so dear to Monsieur Dior.—
Kelly Wetherille,
Footwear News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
In a ruse that, for lack of a more astute reference point here, feels very Don Draper-coded, Rose poses as the dear male soldier who died next to her in battle, figuring why waste the deeds to perfectly decent land, or his name.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And for a sweet trip down memory lane, hit up the stalls dishing out nostalgic treats like candy and coconut wraps, Ding Ding candy, and dragon's beard candy.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Merrill’s balance through the swing and bat-to-ball skill placed him in the top 1% and 14%, respectively, in launch-angle sweet-spot percentage and expected slugging percentage last year.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Darling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darling. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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