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
The projection After three straight conference final losses, everyone’s favorite Western Conference darlings are at an impasse.
—
The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2025
But more and more, Black List darlings wind up as buzzy Netflix curios like They Cloned Tyrone and May December.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 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
Those didn’t even qualify as darlings, just roadkill on the highway to becoming someone else.
—Jane Ciabattari
september 25, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
The young women are commercial darlings, selling everything from chocolate to cell phones and even appearing in videos recruiting for the Japanese military and promoting government bonds.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
One of Snappy Little Numbers’ current label darlings is the fierce Colorado Springs foursome Cheap Perfume, which recently played Denver’s Punk in the Park festival.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 18 Sep. 2025
The Bulls were the early-season darlings of the Group of Five, thanks to back-to-back upsets over Boise State and Florida.
—Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
More Patrick McDermott/Getty Images The Packers, who had been the darlings of the national media last summer after coming within minutes of an NFC Championship Game appearance the previous season, lost in the wild-card round of the playoffs to the Philadelphia Eagles last season.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2025
But more and more, Black List darlings wind up as buzzy Netflix curios like They Cloned Tyrone and May December.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 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
Those didn’t even qualify as darlings, just roadkill on the highway to becoming someone else.
—Jane Ciabattari
september 25, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
The young women are commercial darlings, selling everything from chocolate to cell phones and even appearing in videos recruiting for the Japanese military and promoting government bonds.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
One of Snappy Little Numbers’ current label darlings is the fierce Colorado Springs foursome Cheap Perfume, which recently played Denver’s Punk in the Park festival.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 18 Sep. 2025
The Bulls were the early-season darlings of the Group of Five, thanks to back-to-back upsets over Boise State and Florida.
—Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
More Patrick McDermott/Getty Images The Packers, who had been the darlings of the national media last summer after coming within minutes of an NFC Championship Game appearance the previous season, lost in the wild-card round of the playoffs to the Philadelphia Eagles last season.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darlings
Noun
-
Shop our favorites from the sale below, starting at just $15.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
12 Oct. 2025
-
The Chiefs come into their game against the Detroit Lions, one of the best teams in the league, as slight favorites.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The high school sweethearts were all smiles in the mirror selfie at the Kansas City spot, which the NFL star co-owns with teammate Travis Kelce.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
20 Sep. 2025
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Akl and Hasan Akil (Memory Box) star as childhood sweethearts Yasmina and Nino, who lose sight of one another to reunite in their late 20s, with their relationship developing in step with the tumultuous history of Lebanon.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
At the core, his characters are all sweeties.—
Rima Parikh,
Vulture,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Wildlife lovers will find the endemic Florida scrub jay in the park year-round.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Oct. 2025
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Season 3 found Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) in a friends-to-lovers arc with neighbor Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), who’d harbored a crush on him for years.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Darlings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darlings. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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