dove

noun

ˈdəv How to pronounce dove (audio)
Definition of dovenext
1
as in pacifist
a person who opposes war or warlike policies the doves were in favor of using the surplus to improve the nation's schools and not its weapons systems

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in angel
an innocent or gentle person he's a dove who wouldn't hurt a fly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 dove Joe Eula, a designer friend of Halston's hired by Paley, wanted to have doves fly over the wedding, and Stone wanted to have a traditional march down the aisle. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 30 June 2026 McGill’s superbly nuanced calls, runs, and trills elicited commentary from a second audience, perched in the trees above—a colloquium of finches, towhees, titmice, kingbirds, juncos, and Eurasian collared doves. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 Bartlett’s character is like a rock slab, a vestige of an ancient religion, brought to life in overlapping strips of muslin, linen, and leather in shades of dove, cream, gray, and pale blue, with his hood pulled tight around his face and his hands wrapped in mittens. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026 The deal was marked in Kolkata with a white dove release ceremony, drawing on the film’s central motif of liberation. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dove
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dove
  1. pacifist
  2. angel
  3. sheep
  4. innocent
  5. lamb
Noun
  • The arguments of English philosopher, mathematician, pacifist, and Nobel Prize winner Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) in favor of free speech and inquiry were explosive for the young Basiji.
    — Matt Thompson, SPIN, 8 July 2026
  • His father, Kenneth, was a pacifist and a conscientious objector in World War II, which made the family somewhat outcast in its small hometown.
    — Barbara Isenberg, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Definition of pacifist
Noun
  • The first one features a six-foot tall bronze cast angel whose wings enfold around a granite bench; the sculpture was intended to offer the comfort of an angel’s embrace for visitors who take a seat there.
    — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • The respected 13th-century Spanish rabbi Nachmanides (Ramban) chastises Lot for the atrocity of offering his daughters in place of the angels.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
Definition of angel
Noun
  • The species—which looks like a strange mix of a dog, zebra, and a kangaroo—was hunted to extinction, largely because European settlers blamed them for attacks on sheep, poultry, and other livestock.
    — Taylor Dotson, Scientific American, 10 July 2026
  • Popular among outdoor enthusiasts and scenic travelers, the archipelago boasts seemingly endless roads and more sheep than human residents.
    — Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026
Definition of sheep
Noun
  • Over 5,000 deaths, most of them for innocents not driving trucks, in 2023 alone.
    — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • Whatever conclusions investigators might reach, the loss of at least 50 souls, and the wounding of dozens more innocents, is an unbearable blow for any community.
    — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
Definition of innocent
Noun
  • Twin boys, about 6, sat on their porch so close to each other that their pet lamb fit perfectly across their double lap.
    — Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
  • Natural casings are made of lamb skins and give hot dogs a bit of a curve, while the hot dogs without casing pack flat into the package.
    — Dianna Douglas, NPR, 28 June 2026
Definition of lamb

Browse Nearby Words

dousing
dove
dovecote
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Cite this Entry

“Dove.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dove. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dove

Nglish: Translation of dove for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dove

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