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

Relevance

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
May his struggles never dim the memories of a sweet man, a dear friend, and a master musician, the post read. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Oct. 2026 As my dear friend @courtneyaltonlilly told me, better to die on your feet than live on your knees. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 9 Oct. 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 approach is particularly valuable because not every mechanical problem can be easily identified through a visual inspection.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Investors are already measuring the 5-year-old company's potential market cap in the trillions, putting it in a category with the world's most valuable companies.
    — Jordan Novet, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of valuable
Adjective
  • But many of us have buried our beloved pets in our yards beneath new trees as an alternative to cremation.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
  • For this year’s show at Compton Verney, Cadogan has taken inspiration from British people who’ve written to her about losing beloved trees in their own gardens, or public spaces.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of beloved
Adjective
  • Additionally, key highlights include new ponchos, Barefoot Dreams’ signature CozyChic hooded robe, with a new feminine rose motif running down its back, and an adorable headscarf.
    — Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The grocer is dropping a variety of adorable cookie racks that double as dessert trays.
    — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of adorable
Noun
  • Today, the Mexico City GP is recognized as one of the Formula 1 circuit’s intercontinental darlings.
    — Alan Chazaro, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Perhaps these Brewers aren’t some small-market darling, after all.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of darling
Adjective
  • Supporting Florida’s space industry does not need to be expensive.
    — Max Harden, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
  • With the absence of any major AI company and relatively expensive valuations, investors have picked markets such as South Korea and Taiwan over India, experts said.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of expensive
Adjective
  • DJs take over late on Fridays and Saturdays, while Sundays belong to samba and feijoada meals, honoring the local tradition of gathering with loved ones on weekends to enjoy the black bean and meat stew.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Impact on jobs Along with the financial toll that often accompanies looking after a loved one, caregivers may also experience an impact on their jobs or income.
    — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of loved
Adjective
  • Soft, sweet and dusted with sugar, pan de muerto, the bread of the dead, is a traditional Mexican bread made for Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.
    — Daniela Cintron, AJC.com, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Related Earlier this month, the group’s label, HYBE x Geffen, stated that Laforteza would return to the stage in January, which would be sweet timing for the Asia run.
    — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of sweet
Noun
  • Goebbels interviewed Wessel’s grieving mother and wrote of Jaenichen and Wessel as childhood sweethearts, as though their story was from romance fiction.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Gregory's mother-in-law told The Telegraph the couple were school sweethearts who had been together for over 20 years.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of sweetheart

Browse Nearby Words

deanships
dear
dears
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dear. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of reticent

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All