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
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
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Recent Examples of dear
Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Lawrence is so dear — such a unique person and such a tender soul.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
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
Adjective
Banks wrote a book with Isaac Knapper, the man wrongfully convicted for her father’s murder, calling him a dear friend.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Lawrence is so dear — such a unique person and such a tender soul.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Mar. 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
Adjective
-
Orion will then be returned to Naval Base San Diego, before being transported back to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida where the capsule will be inspected and its valuable data retrieved, NASA said.—
Miles Doran,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Our experts provide valuable tips on how to consume flaxseeds, including home grinding techniques and storage solutions to keep them fresh.—
Kirsten Nunez,
Martha Stewart,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Author Jason Klamm tackles a key question about the beloved 1986 John Hughes film.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Apr. 2026
-
In late 2024, Scheffler auctioned off his beloved 2012 GMC Yukon XL—the car his father gave him after college—through Heritage Auctions, with all proceeds benefiting Triumph Over Kid Cancer.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
At the end, there were adorable little gift bags and flowers.—
Roxane Gay,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
See the adorable trio in photos.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Find table linens, throw blankets, chair cushions, wall art, and area rugs in the darling pattern that nail the sweet spot between nostalgic and trendy.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Between Wright and Gordon last season, Gordon, the hot new name as a rookie, was the darling out of training camp following a strong preseason.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Were there various reasons for cancellation or has Hawaii become too expensive?—
Rich Heldenfels,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Dinner was a delicate salad that Joan had made from thirty-seven dollars’ worth of farmers’-market produce, and a fresh pasta from an extraordinarily expensive local business that the residents of the Lower Haight enthusiastically supported.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Nastiness can be framed as a function of mourning a loved one, as with Dorinda’s rants on RHONY; or despair over personal crises, as with RHOC star Shannon Beador’s DUI and car crash.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
-
For those with loved ones still in Iran, this pause doesn't bring them any peace.—
Ubah Ali
April 7,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Jayden is a sweet, funny, and bright young boy with a joyful and engaging personality.—
MARE Staff,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
So all that sweet flavor is preserved.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Her silk sweetheart gown and cropped cardigan, also designed by Sarah Burton, went viral in 2022 as being particularly gorgeous and underrated.—
Katherine J Igoe,
InStyle,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Nedoroscik and McCracken became college sweethearts after meeting at Penn State University in 2017.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dear. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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