FONDNESS Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

fondness

noun

ˈfän(d)-nəs

Definition of fondness

as in love

a feeling of strong or constant regard for and dedication to someone my fondness for you will never fail

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in liking

positive regard for something I have a fondness for expensive chocolate

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 fondness Steinbach shoots other aspects of nature as well, displaying a particular fondness for the images of plants and trees reflected in shimmering bodies of water. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026 So do not assume that an upcoming three-day event taking place at three notable Chicago taverns has anything to do with Algren’s fondness for alcohol. — Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026 However, perhaps out of loyalty and fondness more than anything else, Irsay didn't fire Ballard. — James Boyd, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026 Parnell could face a tough confirmation given GOP hawks’ fondness for Driscoll and past domestic abuse allegations against him. — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fondness

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fondness

Noun

Nebraska native Sydney Loofe was looking for love, or at least for some fun, while scrolling through Tinder back in 2017.

— Samantha Bergeson, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
All of our love goes out to his family and the country music community.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of love

Noun

Anyone who’s had a game console and played Madden has arranged depth charts to their liking and made game-management decisions to feel like a head coach.

— Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
This flamboyantly ambitious novel, which takes place in a version of Atlanta known as Atlantis, follows the life of George Washington Jonson, a Black cop with a liking for white women.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of liking

Noun

This significant fact indicates to this writer that the affections of the fair fans seem to be switching from those big strong men who rescue them from all sorts of situations, to an esthetic young chap who can give them a dancing thrill.

— David Hajdu, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026
The Olympia, Washington songwriter known for underground rap production pivots to sunny, nostalgic power-pop with distinct affection for the college-rock era.

— Jeff Yerger, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of affection

Noun

By default, users under 18 will no longer be able to see likes and other reactions in response to their posts or those of others.

— Ashwini Nadkarni, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
Trying one dupe a shopper likes often leads them to explore more store brand products across the store.

— Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of like

Noun

The song addresses overcoming adversity and using others’ doubts to fuel your passion.

— Melinda Newman, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2026
The backstory Saltus is a family-run passion project led by sisters Claudia and Nadja Mumelter, alongside their mother, Hedwig.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of passion

Noun

And limiting the ongoing growth in average EV battery capacity—driven by preferences for longer range and larger vehicles—could reduce demand by another 23 percent compared to the current trend.

— Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
But Strategy’s latest purchase shows the company is continuing to build its holdings despite the market’s swings, in line with executive chairman Michael Saylor’s long-standing preference for holding Bitcoin.

— Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of preference

Noun

Last year, Kort helped launch an Eat the Invaders event, bringing chefs together to channel people’s appetite for delicious food by cooking with invasive and overabundant species.

— Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Switches made from wide-bandgap semiconductors such as silicon carbide could handle far higher voltages than silicon, and the EV industry’s appetite for these materials began driving the cost down just as a hungrier customer arrived.

— Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of appetite

Browse Nearby Words

fondling

fondness

font

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Fondness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fondness. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of fondness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

disparate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

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

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

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

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes