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
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 friend
Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 17 May 2025
The most key thing in Episode 4 is that Abby is not just with a group of her friends.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 5 May 2025
Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 13 Jan. 2025
The dress also happened to be very complementary to friend Taylor Swift’s look for the evening—a cream linen dress with a pastel floral design all over it.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for friend
Noun
Next week, Kerry Morgan, a former friend of Cassie Ventura, is expected to testify in the trial.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 17 May 2025
The most key thing in Episode 4 is that Abby is not just with a group of her friends.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 5 May 2025
Verb
With the Bath & Body Works x Sweethearts collab, those of us who remember sending classmates and friends clandestine messages via Sweethearts’ Conversation Hearts are in for a trip down memory lane.
—Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 13 Jan. 2025
The dress also happened to be very complementary to friend Taylor Swift’s look for the evening—a cream linen dress with a pastel floral design all over it.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for friend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for friend
Noun
-
Photograph: Sabrina Kelly; Getty Images Around the time Smith started working on One Shot, Hay began to suspect that his buddy’s finances were not all in order.—
Kate Knibbs,
Wired News,
20 May 2025
-
The buddy comedy finds Hopps, the police department’s first rabbit cop, working full-time with Wilde, the sly fox and former grifter.—
Bill Desowitz,
IndieWire,
20 May 2025
Noun
-
California’s Democratic leaders, including Newsom and top state lawmakers, have been major proponents of transitioning to renewable energy and imposing more restrictions on the state’s oil and gas industry.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2025
-
He’s been a steadfast proponent of theatrical and a believer in its longevity — not just in franchises but also original movies.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
9 May 2025
Verb
-
Smalls’ Paradise, the storied Harlem club where young Malcolm befriended jazz giants, is now an IHOP.—
Lizzie Skurnick,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
-
Downer and Douglas had befriended each other on Instagram, only to meet in person for the first time during the auditions for Flo.—
The New York Times,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
But Xu and her colleagues would need far more evidence than just two people in a trial that enrolled a total of eight, so that research remains ongoing.—
Kristen Jordan Shamus,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
-
For these more serious cases, Soni and his colleagues work closely with the university’s mental-health center and even walk students to a counselor’s door themselves.—
Cornelia Powers,
The Atlantic,
18 May 2025
Noun
-
Goodison is the only stadium in the world to have a church in one of its corners, and St Luke’s remains a vibrant meeting point for supporters on matchday.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
-
As of Wednesday, nearly 11,500 people, including current students, alumni, faculty and HBCU supporters nationwide, signed a petition opposing Johnson’s appointment, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2025
Noun
-
Giant Live Nation has named Richard Grenell, an close confidant and ally of President Donald Trump recently in the headlines for slamming Les Misérables actors and Lin Manuel Miranda, to its board of directors.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
20 May 2025
-
As first reported by The News, lawyer Frank Carone, Adams’ ex-chief of staff and political confidant who’s also close with Mastro, has recently provided pro bono advice to the housing opponents.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
13 May 2025
Noun
-
Biking advocates say that the draconian crackdown was done without any public notice and that pedal bike riders are being swept up in this unprecedented dragnet.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2025
-
Immigrant advocates including the American Civil Liberties Union challenged these deportations, arguing that the Trump administration has offered little evidence that the Venezuelans are gang members, and that the men have a right to contest those allegations in court.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
16 May 2025
Verb
-
That's because psychological benefits are associated with having a college fund.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
-
The dog learns through repetition and rewards to associate smell with a person and follow the scent, building up in distance and the scent’s duration.—
Jan Goldsmith,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Friend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/friend. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share