1
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
as in to befriend
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of friend
Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
The first vigils were just close friends, Thompson told USA Today during an interview over El Salvadoran pupusas from the nearby restaurant.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
Might friend Taylor Swift be on hand to introduce one of her musical performances?
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for friend
Noun
Angela, grieving for her family and friends gone in the war, smuggles goods along the front lines to make a living.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
The first vigils were just close friends, Thompson told USA Today during an interview over El Salvadoran pupusas from the nearby restaurant.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
What’s the difference, for you, between doing that with Black women friends your own age, versus someone who’s old enough to be a mother?
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
Might friend Taylor Swift be on hand to introduce one of her musical performances?
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for friend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for friend
Noun
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And fans of red light lamps will be especially stoked—with a max of 70 lumens and a beam up to 43 feet, the Renegade’s red light works as a true substitute, preserving night vision and taking care not to disturb wildlife (or your camping buddies).—
Brian Higgins,
Outside,
10 Mar. 2026
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Kelce was sitting next to his best buddy, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, during an early-September news conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Now, the hospital, which treats mostly people involved with the justice system, is expanding to alleviate the county’s overlapping mental health and homelessness crisis, in what proponents described as a more compassionate approach than in the past.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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But if that money isn’t enough, or if the proponents don’t identify any programs to cut, the ballot language would have to include a warning that the proposal would likely require cuts to Medicaid and school funding.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mabel befriends dam-building King George (Bobby Moynihan), runs afoul of an insect queen (Meryl Streep) and meets a ton of critters, from an emoji-loving lizard to a professional killer-for-hire shark.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
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More and more people are avoiding dating or befriending those with opposing political views, and growing numbers describe those on the other side as closed-minded, dishonest, immoral and unintelligent.—
Justin Callais,
Twin Cities,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That letter was signed by several of Valladares’ colleagues, including Senate Republican Leader Brian Jones, R-Santee.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
11 Mar. 2026
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His two colleagues, including the ship’s captain, have both died in hypersleep.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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One of the biggest flashpoints came in November when Van de Ven and Djed Spence walked straight down the tunnel without acknowledging the supporters after a 1-0 defeat at home by rivals Chelsea.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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And yet Hezbollah’s choice to plunge the country into war has fractured the group, which is now facing backlash from its own supporters, and from the Lebanese government.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The final memorial service at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s headquarters on the South Side of Chicago included a few hundred attendees, most of whom were family members, allies and confidants.—
Matt Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
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The private memorial service at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s headquarters on the South Side of Chicago will include only a few hundred attendees, who are expected to be mostly family members, allies and confidants.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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When Walker was fatally shot following the 211 call that prompted police officers to arrive at his apartment, where his teen and young adults daughters also were, advocates hosted a press conference demanding justice and accountability at City Hall.—
Mariana Navarrete Villegas,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
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But voting rights advocates say that requiring documentary proof can get complicated.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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So, there's an awful lot at play in this war in addition to just the tragedy associated with those that are -- those that are dying.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Mar. 2026
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In fact, reducing irrigation frequency and improving drainage is a great chemical-free way to combat weed problems associated with excess soil moisture.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Friend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/friend. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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