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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sweethearts
a person with whom one is in love
anything you say, darling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of darlings
Outside of the hospital, Emmy darlings Julianne Nicholson and Allison Janney should score nominations for their work on Paradise and The Diplomat, respectively.
—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
25 June 2026
That changed on Monday, when Cape Verde and its 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha became early darlings of the World Cup after holding European champion Spain, one of the tournament favorites, to a scoreless draw in their opening match.
—
Andre Fernandez,
Miami Herald,
22 June 2026
My beautiful girls, my darlings, who are suddenly women.
—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 June 2026
Despite Algeria becoming the local darlings of Lawrence, KC Live!
—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
New Zealand filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou — twins better known by their nom de YouTube RackkaRackka, where their violent, nutso videos were embraced by millions of viewers — became indie darlings thanks to their 2022 hit for A24, Talk to Me.
—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
14 June 2026
Take a peek inside where the revenues for these AI darlings will come from.
—
Bhaskar Chakravorti,
Fortune,
7 June 2026
Since its heyday in the early and mid-2000s, the brand quietly made a resurgence, garnering partnerships with music industry darlings like Megan Thee Stallion and Zara Larsson.
—
Essence Wiley,
InStyle,
6 June 2026
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
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
25 June 2026
That changed on Monday, when Cape Verde and its 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha became early darlings of the World Cup after holding European champion Spain, one of the tournament favorites, to a scoreless draw in their opening match.
—
Andre Fernandez,
Miami Herald,
22 June 2026
My beautiful girls, my darlings, who are suddenly women.
—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 June 2026
Despite Algeria becoming the local darlings of Lawrence, KC Live!
—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
New Zealand filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou — twins better known by their nom de YouTube RackkaRackka, where their violent, nutso videos were embraced by millions of viewers — became indie darlings thanks to their 2022 hit for A24, Talk to Me.
—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
14 June 2026
Take a peek inside where the revenues for these AI darlings will come from.
—
Bhaskar Chakravorti,
Fortune,
7 June 2026
Since its heyday in the early and mid-2000s, the brand quietly made a resurgence, garnering partnerships with music industry darlings like Megan Thee Stallion and Zara Larsson.
—
Essence Wiley,
InStyle,
6 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darlings
Noun
-
That moves Morocco — one of the favorites to go all the way — into first place in Group C, while Scotland falls to second.
-
Cape Verde shocked the world by pulling off a scoreless draw against reigning European champions Spain (one of the favorites in this year’s World Cup).
Noun
-
Michael Cincinati and Amanda Price were high school sweethearts.
-
Katie and Devin’s pregnancy announcement came less than a year after the high school sweethearts tied the knot in July 2025.
Noun
-
May these two sweeties never travel to Russia ever again.
Noun
-
AIs will be our friends, our confidants, our therapists, our doctors, our employees, our business partners—and yes, in many cases, our romantic partners and lovers.
-
And now the opportunity to get to travel to them with other fans, with other book lovers, just too good to pass up.
Cite this Entry
“Darlings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darlings. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
