FRIEND Synonyms: 145 Similar and Opposite Words

friend 1 of 2

noun

ˈfrend

Definition of friend

as in buddy

a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another really close friends who like to do everything together and are always sharing secrets

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in proponent

a person who actively supports or favors a cause hopes that the new governor will be a friend to environmental causes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

friend

2 of 2

verb

as in to befriend

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 friend

Noun

The 36-year-old pop star made a surprise appearance alongside longtime friend Mariska Hargitay in a hilarious sketch during the 2026 Emmy Awards. — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026 Brunson and Hargitay, who are friends, have become synonymous with the Knicks for different reasons. — Jason Jones, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Verb

The discourse started to boil when the Duchess of Sussex declared to friend Mindy Kaling that her last name is now Sussex in season 1 of Netflix’s With Love, Meghan, which premiered in March 2025. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026 Sending his wife Luciana and all his family and friends our condolences. — Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for friend

Recent Examples of Synonyms for friend

Noun

But the Opera House manager or assistant manager was one of our old Berkeley buddies.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
After his buddy’s truck passes, Tanner guides his Jeep back onto the road and puts foot to gas for five miles into Little Moreau Park.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of buddy

Noun

School choice proponents often say the rapid increase in participation only shows the enormous demand for such programs.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
By contrast, modern proponents of the existence of a ninth planet focus their searches further out, looking instead to orbital peculiarities in smaller objects that occupy the distant reaches of the solar system.

— Micah Hanks, Space.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of proponent

Verb

In high school, Campbell befriended a student named Will Reinart.

— Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Holmes invited documentarians to capture the Theranos founder’s last few days of freedom before going to prison (and eventually befriending Jen Shah/shunning Ghislaine Maxwell).

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of befriend

Noun

Then on Wednesday, Justice Flávio Dino overruled his colleague and restored the two senior police officials to their posts.

— MAURICIO SAVARESE, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
The doctor said his colleagues are struggling to treat infected children who often arrive at the hospital with serious complications like pneumonia, diarrhea and encephalitis, or brain swelling.

— Julhas Alam, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of colleague

Noun

Footage circulating on social media appears to show a confrontation unfolding on the sidelines in the 73rd minute when Bielik was attempting to retrieve a ball that was thrown back into play by a young Portsmouth supporter.

— Sam Joseph, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Clancy’s supporters were divided, some holding out hope the Commonwealth’s highest court would intervene and others coming to accept what would end up being the inescapable conclusion.

— Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of supporter

Verb

Generally, higher use of artificial intelligence was associated with lower test scores.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
The study also showed that improving cardiorespiratory fitness from low to even just below average was associated with a 50% reduction in all-cause mortality.

— Jakob Roze, HEALTH, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of associate

Noun

The former mayor’s lawyer and longtime confidant Bob Costello, who’s trying to help him get his law licenses back — and whose firm sued him in 2023 for $1 million in unpaid legal bills — came to Giuliani’s defense.

— Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026
Watch, too, for Billie Piper, as a casting director and Charleson’s confidant, who does the quietest and maybe the most surprising work in the film.

— Clayton Davis, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of confidant

Noun

The safest way to pay someone, consumer advocates say, is online, with a credit or debit card or electronic check.

— Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
Researchers and climate advocates have suggested that eating less meat is one way to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and benefit the environment.

— Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of advocate

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Style

“Friend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/friend. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of friend

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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