1
as in services
an act of kind assistance
a good and generous friend who is always doing favors for others
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in regards
a feeling of great approval and liking
entertainers often learn that the favor of the public can be fickle indeed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in approvals
an acceptance of something as satisfactory
over the years that kind of movie fell out of favor with the mass audience
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in likes
positive regard for something
was willing to do just about anything to keep the boss's favor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in obliges
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 accepts
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 prefers
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 gifts
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 favors
Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 7 Sep. 2025
Peppers was stripped of his status as captain after being arrested last season, and the new coaching staff owes him no favors.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Although the tall, slim, and elegant shape is appealing, that Champagne flute isn’t doing your spectacular sparkling wine any favors.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Aug. 2025
Even Shailene Woodley’s natural warmth on screen can’t convince us that two men would spend their lives fighting for her favors.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2025
Most people enjoy reflecting on their own experience, especially when it’s framed as sharing wisdom, not asking for professional favors.
—Julia Korn, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Harmony in relationships should be easier to come upon, and asking for favors may be granted more easily.
—Kyle Thomas, People.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Those are just some of the bribes Manhattan prosecutors allege Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Mayor Adams’ longtime political confidante, pocketed over a years-long period in exchange for doling out government favors to her benefactors, like city contracts and expedited building permits.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
Fleshing out work simply to hit a word count isn’t doing anyone any favors.
—Kristen Arnett
august 21, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2025
Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 10 Sep. 2025
This week, the Cleveland Browns take on the Baltimore Ravens, and this actually favors Tillman.
—Steve Bradshaw, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
In other words, ChatGPT favors Standard American English, which can frustrate non-American users.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
In an environment full of dangers, natural selection favors those who can detect meaning from a plethora of extraneous information.
—Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Now 34 and a teacher, Velasco still favors video as an educational tool.
—Erick Trevino, AZCentral.com, 7 Sep. 2025
When asked about which tire would have done better — the soft or medium — the Mercedes CEO believes hindsight always favors the alternative strategy.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
Hastings says that the move to Miami will enable the festival to reach a true plurality of Latin demographics, avoiding the regional tendencies of both Southern California, where Mexican and Central American nationalities dominate culturally, and New York, which favors Caribbeans.
—Douglas Markowitz, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Woodard favors muni bonds that have solid discounts and elevated yields.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
Defense kept Charlotte competitive Charlotte did itself no favors to open the game, allowing North Carolina to score the game’s first points in just three plays, with North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez finding wideout Chris Culliver for a 51-yard strike down the visitor’s sideline.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 7 Sep. 2025
Peppers was stripped of his status as captain after being arrested last season, and the new coaching staff owes him no favors.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Although the tall, slim, and elegant shape is appealing, that Champagne flute isn’t doing your spectacular sparkling wine any favors.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Aug. 2025
Even Shailene Woodley’s natural warmth on screen can’t convince us that two men would spend their lives fighting for her favors.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2025
Most people enjoy reflecting on their own experience, especially when it’s framed as sharing wisdom, not asking for professional favors.
—Julia Korn, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Harmony in relationships should be easier to come upon, and asking for favors may be granted more easily.
—Kyle Thomas, People.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Those are just some of the bribes Manhattan prosecutors allege Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Mayor Adams’ longtime political confidante, pocketed over a years-long period in exchange for doling out government favors to her benefactors, like city contracts and expedited building permits.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
Fleshing out work simply to hit a word count isn’t doing anyone any favors.
—Kristen Arnett
august 21, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
The hour favors features and longer interviews over breaking news, which appealed to Santaniello.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 10 Sep. 2025
This week, the Cleveland Browns take on the Baltimore Ravens, and this actually favors Tillman.
—Steve Bradshaw, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
In other words, ChatGPT favors Standard American English, which can frustrate non-American users.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
In an environment full of dangers, natural selection favors those who can detect meaning from a plethora of extraneous information.
—Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Now 34 and a teacher, Velasco still favors video as an educational tool.
—Erick Trevino, AZCentral.com, 7 Sep. 2025
When asked about which tire would have done better — the soft or medium — the Mercedes CEO believes hindsight always favors the alternative strategy.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
Hastings says that the move to Miami will enable the festival to reach a true plurality of Latin demographics, avoiding the regional tendencies of both Southern California, where Mexican and Central American nationalities dominate culturally, and New York, which favors Caribbeans.
—Douglas Markowitz, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Woodard favors muni bonds that have solid discounts and elevated yields.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for favors
Noun
-
Mirza said the mobile bus has visited in the past, but that the permanent presence of dental care services is an exciting addition to UHI.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Once it's installed, Stealerium is designed to steal a wide variety of data and send it to the hacker via services like Telegram, Discord, or the SMTP protocol in some variants of the spyware, all of which is relatively standard in infostealers.—
Ryan Whitwam,
ArsTechnica,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The White House echoed that argument in regards to this week’s strike.—
Emily Goodin,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Crown Point resident Susan McKendry, during the public hearing portion of the annexation request, asked about how the new business park would be serviced in regards to utilities.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Amazon Data Services rounded out the top 11 list with an increase of 102 approvals, from 441 to 543 year-over-year.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
-
In an enterprise setting, these agents will begin by taking over many rule-based, repeatable workflows like invoice processing, expense report audits and procurement approvals.—
Shyam Ravindranathan,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The signatories — which included the likes of EV manufacturers Volvo and Polestar, as well as material suppliers, battery manufacturers and grid operators — said the introduction of the target had already triggered hundreds of billions of euros in new investment.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
-
And given how the likes of Meta are racing to snap up top talent—sometimes with $100 million bonuses—the loss of key personnel could fatally affect a business’s ability to grow and innovate.—
Tiz Gambacorta,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Ian obliges and books the band.—
Rob Reiner,
New Yorker,
27 Aug. 2025
-
Sam then picks up Emerald and asks for a cuddle, and the pup happily obliges, nuzzling into Sam's neck and relaxing into the hug.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The machine only accepts credit cards for payment.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Sep. 2025
-
In a no-contest plea, a defendant accepts a conviction and sentence without admitting guilt.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Usually, my daughter prefers books with a sense of humor.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Neutrogena Clean Face Oil-free Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 Recor prefers this oil-free SPF for his face while flying.—
Kristy Alpert,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The accident leaves him horrifically disfigured, but also gifts him with enhanced strength.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
The announcement effectively gifts the largest and most dangerous polluters in the country the right to unregulated emissions.—
Ryan Gellert,
Fortune,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Favors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/favors. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share