1
as in loved
granted special treatment or attention
the youngest child was also the most favored—much to the envy of his siblings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in selected
singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking
for a favored few, the restaurant always has a table available, no matter how busy it is
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in obliged
to do a service or favor for
although she was at the party as a guest, the singer favored us with a song
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accepted
to have a favorable opinion of
if this measure will reduce our property taxes, then I favor it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in preferred
to show partiality toward
older moviegoers tend to favor films that have certain extras—like a plot and developed characters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in gifted
to furnish freely or naturally with some power, quality, or attribute
favored with good looks
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 favored
Mark Story, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 May 2025
Fortunately, Rubio has now brought USAID's residual functions directly under State Department supervision, thereby ensuring that foreign aid serves American national interests rather than those of favored NGOs or United Nations agencies.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
The National Team’s favored ETFs had very light volumes.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Whether fans support a favored team or an underdog, most issues come down to economics.
—Mark Lasota, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for favored
Adjective
Tirico, 58, not only missed out on hosting the coverage of the hard-charging Sovereignty’s victorious stretch run against the favored Journalism.
—Mark Story, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 May 2025
Fortunately, Rubio has now brought USAID's residual functions directly under State Department supervision, thereby ensuring that foreign aid serves American national interests rather than those of favored NGOs or United Nations agencies.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
The National Team’s favored ETFs had very light volumes.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Whether fans support a favored team or an underdog, most issues come down to economics.
—Mark Lasota, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for favored
Recent Examples of Synonyms for favored
Adjective
-
Lauren James, England’s most explosive attacking player, was a doubt to be among the selected 23 because of a hamstring injury.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
-
The selected artist will receive $1,700-$2,125 a month for the 17- to 18-week program, plus a stipend for art supplies.—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
18 May 2025
Verb
-
Willard obliged, giving the soon-to-be NBA draft pick the team’s final shot.—
Bennett Conlin,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Mar. 2025
-
Whether the head coach truly obliged Fudd’s request remains a point of contention.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Does that mean Kidd has accepted the Mavericks are the Red Sox in that scenario?—
Sam Settleman,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
-
The eight-page complaint alleges that Crocket’s campaign accepted a total of $610 from 56 separate transactions in 2023 and 2024 from a 73-year-old retiree who was allegedly unaware of the donations.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Nearly every team, including the Rangers, gifted Rosen a jersey signed by every player.—
Arthur Staple,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The Queen spoke with the young students and gifted them a selection of books before posing for an official photo with school teachers and administrators.—
Alina Trabattoni,
People.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, the latest reading of the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge indicated that price increases in April slowed as well.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
30 May 2025
-
Investors on Friday also digested fresh data that showed the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge cooled in April slightly more economists had expected, but also revealed a significant drop in consumer spending.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
Large animals are being accommodated at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
Newsweek,
9 Jan. 2025
-
However, after more than two seasons, Adams asked to be traded last September, and the Raiders eventually accommodated his request.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
For decades, the leaders of both parties had tolerated mind-boggling levels of corruption, waste, and administrative bloat, enabling a culture of profligacy that subsidized the federal bureaucracy and crony capitalists at the expense of hard-working American taxpayers.—
Michael Glassner and John Pence,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
-
Performative efforts from businesses will no longer be tolerated and walking the talk will become non-negotiable.—
Paul Klein,
Forbes,
22 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Polsky previously endowed the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and sits on the university’s board.—
Karina Atkins,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2025
-
Roughly the size of Western Europe, the war-riven country is endowed with vast mineral wealth, including the world’s largest reserves of cobalt and coltan – both critical to the production of electronics.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN,
12 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Favored.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/favored. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share