dear 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdir How to pronounce dear (audio)
Definition of dearnext
1
as in valuable
commanding a large price caviar has always been among the dearest of foods

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in beloved
granted special treatment or attention spared no expense when caring for and feeding her dear little dog

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in adorable
having qualities that tend to make one loved a dear friend that I would do anything for

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dear

2 of 2

noun

as in darling
a person with whom one is in love I love you, dear

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 dear
Adjective
Who better than a dear friend to serve as your cohost and cleanup accomplice as the night winds down? — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 3 July 2026 Gigi Hadid—an OG member of Taylor Swift's squad from the 2010s—watched her dear friend walk down the aisle to wed Travis Kelce on July 3. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 3 July 2026
Noun
At a recent event raising money for the Men Wear Pink campaign and for the Cincinnati Friars Club, another charity dear to Altenau's heart, the ambassadors climbed on stage and sang her a song. — Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2024 Somehow the ethereal little dears were inapprehensible without words. — Tom Wolfe, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for dear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dear
  1. valuable
  2. beloved
  3. adorable
  4. darling
  5. expensive
  6. loved
  7. sweet
  8. sweetheart
Adjective
  • This auction at Sotheby’s set a record for most valuable fossil ever sold.
    — Kristi Curry Rogers, Washington Post, 16 July 2026
  • Grand Slam events have updated commercial regulations to more clearly distinguish athletic equipment from luxury marketing placements, reflecting how valuable athlete visibility has become for fashion brands.
    — Nethumi Kannangara, Sportico.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of valuable
Adjective
  • For something slower and more sceney, Bardot-era Le Club 55 remains one of the most beloved lunches on the peninsula and is often visited by the Hollywood crowd.
    — Karli Poliziani, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026
  • Anixter, Wrigleyville’s beloved ‘Pink Hat Guy,’ died Tuesday night from complications with surgery, according to his family.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of beloved
Adjective
  • Enjoy the final day of the workweek by opening a new browser window and joining USA TODAY Pets on YouTube to watch adorable baby cats on the KitKat Playroom live cam.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 10 July 2026
  • On the one hand, there’s the very dark reality of what life and death looks like in a tale of survival on the prairie — and on the other, there’s the Ingalls enjoying a pretty adorable homemade Christmas.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 9 July 2026
Definition of adorable
Noun
  • On their debut album, the Detroit musician skewers social-climbing scene darlings and tackles personal existential delusions over a frenetic blend of post-punk and electro-pop.
    — Cassidy Sollazzo, Pitchfork, 13 July 2026
  • Won its group, defeated tournament darling Cape Verde, ousted Egypt and then de-neutralized the Swiss in extra time.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 13 July 2026
Definition of darling
Adjective
  • While China has buffered itself from the broader supply shocks, more expensive fuel and commodities could weigh on consumer sentiment and disrupt manufacturing.
    — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • Earlier this year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg broke the county’s record for most expensive home sale with the purchase of an Indian Creek Village waterfront mansion for $170 million.
    — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
Definition of expensive
Adjective
  • Nothing can bring Lorenzo Salgado Araujo back to his loved ones.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
  • Aside from the trauma, injury or death of a loved one, in most if not all cases families have no path to get financial assistance to cover medical or funeral bills.
    — Laura Geller, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Definition of loved
Adjective
  • But even if you’re tempted to drown your chicken in the sweet and savory cranberry barbecue sauce, try to hold a little back.
    — Justin Brown, AJC.com, 12 July 2026
  • For the grand opening in Eagle the store offered sweet cream, chocolate, pistachio, strawberry, wild berry and frozen lemonade.
    — Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 11 July 2026
Definition of sweet
Noun
  • Normally, Daughtry would be back in her idyllic hometown of Willowbrook, Kansas, putting the final touches on her upcoming wedding to her longtime sweetheart, Tom (Michael Cassidy).
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 July 2026
  • He has been married once, to his former high school sweetheart and mother of his first child, Toya Johnson.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of sweetheart

Browse Nearby Words

deanships
dear
dears
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Cite this Entry

“Dear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dear. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of dear for Spanish Speakers

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