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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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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 suspect was allegedly a guest at the barracks visiting a state trooper friend from college, prosecutors said in court at his arraignment. — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Every instructor, editor, friend, my spouse, and absolutely my agent, who tells me when to try it again, that something hasn’t reached my ambitions for it. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 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

Here for work the next couple of days and possibly have Wednesday and Thursday night open if my buddy can’t make it into town for work as might have to be in Alabama instead.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Louis-Dreyfus plays Polly Wyeth, a staunch California Republican in the mold of her buddy Nancy Reagan.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of buddy

Noun

One of the leading proponents of an energy-centric view of disease is Martin Picard, a biologist who directs the Mitochondrial Psychobiology Group at Columbia University.

— Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
The No campaign accused measure proponents of misusing the state office.

— Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of proponent

Verb

Lula is a champion of the Palestinian cause; Bolsonaro, like his father, has made a point of befriending the Israeli right.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
The whale’s gullet is flickeringly lit by a bioluminescent jellyfish that Jay sort of befriends.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of befriend

Noun

The letter also urges scrutiny of her staff, donors, and colleagues.

— Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026
Murray says her own experience has made her more understanding when female colleagues seem more tired or irritable than usual, particularly when the behavior is out of character.

— Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of colleague

Noun

Continue reading … DIRTY POLITICS — Antifa supporter charged with stealing GOP campaign signs in NY race to replace Stefanik.

— , FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Ahead of Frost’s Monday sentencing after his guilty plea to wire fraud, a flood of family members and supporters submitted about 80 letters to the court in a bid for leniency.

— Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of supporter

Verb

Of the 200 records the county staff reviewed, 112 were associated with people whose registrations are canceled or inactive.

— Miles Parks, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026
Circana’s 2026 research on nostalgia in retail found that younger consumers are embracing products from their own childhoods alongside vintage items associated with earlier generations.

— Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of associate

Noun

The New Mexico attorney general filed a lawsuit Wednesday against two of Jeffrey Epstein's closest confidants, seeking to stop them from receiving payments for serving as executors of his estate.

— Graham Kates, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
The next target was Meese, Reagan’s Presidential counsellor and close confidant.

— Bob Woodward, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of confidant

Noun

Imara Jones, an advocate who runs a website that features the stories of transgender people, said the issue is attractive for conservatives because some Democrats agree with them.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Medicaid reimbursement rate cuts anger foster care advocates and lawmakers.

— Adam Beam, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of advocate

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Style

“Friend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/friend. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of friend

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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