1
as in favorites
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sweethearts
a person with whom one is in love
anything you say, darling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of darlings
There's a big rotation happening in the market on Thursday, with investors selling their AI darlings and moving into groups that have been left behind this year.
—
Jeff Marks, CNBC, 4 June 2026
The Mean Green were a loss in their conference championship game away from making it to the College Football Playoff last season, and many are viewing the Cowboys as CFP darlings this year, due in no small part to both Mestemaker and Morris making the trip north on I-35.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
The group features sustainable darlings like Babylonstoren in South Africa and true regional gems like the storied La Mamounia, a landmark of Marrakech’s unrivaled hospitality scene.
—Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
What a week indie-disco darlings The Killers have ahead of them.
—Matt Slater, New York Times, 23 May 2026
Pieces from modern art darlings such as David Hockney, Rose Wylie, Kiki Smith, Gala Porras-Kim, Nam June Paik, Lee Bul, Lee Ufan and Koo Bohnchang are also on display.
—Melinda Sheckells, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
On the artier side there are international art house darlings Ousmane Sembene, Lee Chang-Dong, and Catherine Breillat, all of whom, along with Alex Garland, are better known for their movies at this point than their books.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 15 May 2026
My beautiful girls, my darlings, who are suddenly women.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
Atop the bill is powerhouse singer-songwriter/indie artist Thao, the eponymous title of Thao Nguyen, centerpiece of indie darlings Thao & the Get Down Stay Down.
—Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Jeff Marks, CNBC, 4 June 2026
The Mean Green were a loss in their conference championship game away from making it to the College Football Playoff last season, and many are viewing the Cowboys as CFP darlings this year, due in no small part to both Mestemaker and Morris making the trip north on I-35.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
The group features sustainable darlings like Babylonstoren in South Africa and true regional gems like the storied La Mamounia, a landmark of Marrakech’s unrivaled hospitality scene.
—Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
What a week indie-disco darlings The Killers have ahead of them.
—Matt Slater, New York Times, 23 May 2026
Pieces from modern art darlings such as David Hockney, Rose Wylie, Kiki Smith, Gala Porras-Kim, Nam June Paik, Lee Bul, Lee Ufan and Koo Bohnchang are also on display.
—Melinda Sheckells, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
On the artier side there are international art house darlings Ousmane Sembene, Lee Chang-Dong, and Catherine Breillat, all of whom, along with Alex Garland, are better known for their movies at this point than their books.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 15 May 2026
My beautiful girls, my darlings, who are suddenly women.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
Atop the bill is powerhouse singer-songwriter/indie artist Thao, the eponymous title of Thao Nguyen, centerpiece of indie darlings Thao & the Get Down Stay Down.
—Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darlings
Noun
-
The Rams are currently the favorites to win the Super Bowl, regardless of what your favorite book is.—
Gladys Louise Tyler,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
-
Offering trend-forward styles for both men and women, this assortment includes year-round favorites designed for all-day comfort.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
The childhood sweethearts divorced in 1968.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
30 May 2026
-
The pair were college sweethearts and married on May 21, 1994.—
Jacqueline Weiss,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
May these two sweeties never travel to Russia ever again.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
At the end of season two, Lestat and Louis have reunited as lovers.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
7 June 2026
-
For nature lovers, surfers, divers and fishermen, the setting offers both seclusion and connection.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Darlings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darlings. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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