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

Add to that the long-time stigma over shows with all-female leads, especially in a non-procedural setting, and that would explain why series about 50-year-old female friends have been very rare — a trend that has carried over to the streaming age. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2026 Money doesn’t spare you from problems with your husband or your friends or your kids. — Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 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

Hoyer had conversations with old buddy Scott Harris, the Detroit Tigers president, about acquiring Skubal, but nothing serious.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2026
A lot of local people could see him in their son, or boyfriend, or high school buddy who had ended up on the wrong path.

— Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of buddy

Noun

But lawmakers appear to be turning to the provisions as a means of transitioning away from that model and toward what proponents, including Netanyahu, describe as a mutually beneficial defense partnership.

— Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 6 Aug. 2026
Although proponents say the substances help with weight loss, energy and muscle mass, and often cite research that has been done solely on animals or on a very small number of humans, no one knows for certain how or when it should be used in humans.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of proponent

Verb

Gigi had joined Hollis’ girls’ weekend after befriending her online out of complicated guilt over her affair with Matthew.

— Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026
This all changed one day when another guest, who had befriended me, got a room and left the shelter.

— The Atlantic, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of befriend

Noun

Freezing dormant coins, supporters argue, beats letting a future quantum thief drain them and dump them on the market.

— Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
After spending last summer in the heat of Hong Kong and South Korea, where the Tottenham supporter base is large and fervent, opting for Australia and New Zealand offered a welcome change of pace.

— Elias Burke, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of supporter

Verb

That was until his parents gave him a reality check about the lack of money and abundance of hard work often associated with the path.

— DeAsia Paige, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026
No off-season on the water While many people associate water rescues with summer, Lach said some of the Marine Unit's busiest months come after Labor Day.

— Darius Johnson, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of associate

Noun

This means that negotiations with Barça, as super agent and close Mendes confidant Jorge Mendes acts as the middle man, are well underway.

— Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Then there’s Mary Jane, who has been Peter’s wife and confidant over several iterations of the Marvel legend.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Definition of confidant

Noun

Patient safety advocates criticize the decision, noting these unapproved compounds, like BPC-157, lack robust human clinical trials and pose risks, including potential cancer links.

— Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Consumer advocates say state student loans are more akin to private student loans, and should be approached with caution.

— Annie Nova, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of advocate

Browse Nearby Words

fried

friend

friended

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Style

“Friend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/friend. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of friend

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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