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
Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Aug. 2025
The Osbournes are truly animal lovers, and perhaps the most darling part of the series was how nearly every scene had at least one of the family’s many dogs or cats sniffing around.
—Maya Salam, New York Times, 23 July 2025
Jeff Nelson, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
Currently, her work has been worn by fashion icons Naomi Campbell and Anok Yai, as well as music darlings like Kelly Rowland, Cassie, and SZA.
—Essence, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for darling
Adjective
Vibrant, golden turmeric, the darling Indian spice packed with curcumin, an anti-inflammatory powerhouse, has also been shown to prevent memory loss.
—Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Aug. 2025
The Osbournes are truly animal lovers, and perhaps the most darling part of the series was how nearly every scene had at least one of the family’s many dogs or cats sniffing around.
—Maya Salam, New York Times, 23 July 2025
Noun
After breaking out in 2016, Khalid became an industry darling, garnering five Grammy nominations and becoming a go-to duet partner for everyone from Ed Sheeran to Billie Eilish (see sidebar).
—Jeff Nelson, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
Currently, her work has been worn by fashion icons Naomi Campbell and Anok Yai, as well as music darlings like Kelly Rowland, Cassie, and SZA.
—Essence, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for darling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darling
Adjective
-
Feeling disconnected from a loved one?—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Nab the blanket on sale to wrap up in all season long or get a head start on holiday shopping and gift it to a loved one.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Read more about this unbearably adorable two-month-old baby pygmy hippopotamus at the link in bio.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
-
With five adorable friends to choose from, your child's Forever Friend can be found if lost thanks to a scannable tag (or replaced if needed).—
De Elizabeth,
Parents,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The nocturnal creature, known for its elusive nature, was a delightful surprise for the conservationists monitoring the area.—
Real-Time News team,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
-
As a guest of the 7-key property, you’re encouraged to attend happy hour on the porch, a delightful time of day when the homemade sangria flows freely.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Among the best options is Winterberry (), whose bright red berries persist into winter and are a favorite of cardinals and robins.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Mayniel’s favorite choke enough song, coproduced with Casey MQ and another friend, French DJ Lucien Krampf, is the title track.—
Anna Gaca,
Pitchfork,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Both Taylors got famous as kids, grew up in public as America’s sweetheart.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
4 Oct. 2025
-
In addition to Euphoria star Elordi, the movie costars Oscar Isaac as Frankenstein, along with Mia Goth (as Frankenstein's childhood sweetheart), and two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz (as an arms dealer not in the book).—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This means the earthly remains of the beloved saint will bring thousands of visitors to honor the saint's life of virtue and ask for her prayers.—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
1 Oct. 2025
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The study found the country is so beloved, a whopping 84 percent of expats who move there are happy with their lives, compared to just 67 percent of expats globally.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
My dad’s dear friend and agent, Tor Belfrage, put us in touch with them early on.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
2 Oct. 2025
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Sam Elliott is joining this year as Tommy’s dear old dad.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In collaboration with interior design content creators Chris and Julia Marcum, this sweet scalloped rug adds visual interest with a scalloped edge.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
6 Oct. 2025
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The bacon fat and rendered ham drippings are the backbone of this super simple savory sauce, studded with small pieces of sweet mirepoix and earthy black-eyed peas.—
Elizabeth Mervosh,
Southern Living,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Darling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darling. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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