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
Lindsey Graham was a patriot, a statesman and my dear friend. — FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026 As a rapper, Rodriguez—real name Ryan Adams, which, dear God—wears his influences on his sleeve. — Drew Millard, Pitchfork, 17 July 2026
Noun
Early on, Leonardo Spinazzola made a mistake similar to the one Billy Gilmour committed last week, one that cost Napoli dear against Torino. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025 Decked out for the holidays While the angel ornaments sit in a glass case, Donna holds two ornaments on the dining room Christmas tree dear. — Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 14 Nov. 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
  • The simple way to think about this product is a closer integration between Salesforce's library of customers' valuable data and the capabilities of the Claude model.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The term describes how one’s actions have side effects that might be more valuable than the actions themselves, like a bee pollinating the world’s flowers while making honey for its hive.
    — Christopher Cox, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of valuable
Adjective
  • Damage to the remains could complicate evidence The discovery of human remains that set off a firestorm of questions about a possible link to Guthrie developed during an agonizing, monthslong search for the beloved mother.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • In true Richards’ fashion, of course, Kyle transfers her distress into throwing yet another one of her overwrought white parties, whose guest list is filled with a caravan of beloved names in the Bravo-verse.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of beloved
Adjective
  • Heading Straight To The Store A shopping trip is certainly the easiest part of a home project, especially with so many adorable storage organizers on the market.
    — Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026
  • While your pup is adorable, vet visits, grooming, dog food, toys and other everyday costs can add up quickly.
    — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of adorable
Noun
  • The Beloved will face stiff competition from fellow Cannes darling La Bola Negra, which has many fans.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Every year brings a handful of new Netflix darlings — Adolescence dominated the awards circuit just last year!
    — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of darling
Adjective
  • But when shovels become too expensive, the miners start forging their own.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • West Virginia is the least expensive state, with an income of $81,245 for a single adult and $202,592 for a family of four.
    — Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of expensive
Adjective
  • After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.
    — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • No details about the funeral service have yet been released, though TMZ reported that her family is planning a small ceremony in Nashville for her closest family and loved ones.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of loved
Adjective
  • And while the museum is sweet, with tours in English several times a day, people also love coming here for entry to the cove itself.
    — Megan Rose Murray, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Summer is a great time to revisit juicy, fresh, or sweet gourmands, but as the weather cools down, we’re reminded of more nuanced indulgences.
    — Loren Savini, Allure, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of sweet
Noun
  • In this Southern mystery with a sci-fi twist, tensions rise in a small Bible Belt community when faced with the appearance of mysterious lights in the sky, the strange disappearance of a local sweetheart, and the possible connection between them.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
  • His college sweetheart and wife of nearly 56 years, Mickey, died in 2011.
    — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 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 28 Aug. 2026.

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