1
as in buddies
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 supporters
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
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 friends
Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Jaquez, who grew up in the Los Angeles area and went to college at UCLA, was able to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Game 7 World Series-clinching road victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night with family and friends around other Dodgers fans.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
This film is set days after Christmas and follows three slacker friends who are hired to transport a troubled teen across the country.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025
Venus feels out of place in the West Hollywood dating scene, but his friends encourage him to step out of his comfort zone.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 3 Nov. 2025
Some friends still use he, some use they.
—James Marcus, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Trump’s tariff strong-arming has rattled relationships with America’s friends and foes.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2025
The couple held a wedding celebration over the weekend in Pennsylvania attended by friends, family, and fellow politicians.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
Cardi and the New England Patriots player met through mutual friends, according to the 33-year-old.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
The epicenter of Los Angeles effectively shut down for several hours as the parade wove through the sea of fans bleeding Dodger blue with the Boys in Blue riding atop double-decker buses with friends and family, while waving to fans and holding the Commissioner’s Trophy.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Jaquez, who grew up in the Los Angeles area and went to college at UCLA, was able to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Game 7 World Series-clinching road victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night with family and friends around other Dodgers fans.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
This film is set days after Christmas and follows three slacker friends who are hired to transport a troubled teen across the country.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025
Venus feels out of place in the West Hollywood dating scene, but his friends encourage him to step out of his comfort zone.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 3 Nov. 2025
Some friends still use he, some use they.
—James Marcus, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Trump’s tariff strong-arming has rattled relationships with America’s friends and foes.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2025
The couple held a wedding celebration over the weekend in Pennsylvania attended by friends, family, and fellow politicians.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
Cardi and the New England Patriots player met through mutual friends, according to the 33-year-old.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for friends
Noun
-
Misconstrued by many as something akin to an extended Henny Youngman routine, Portnoy’s Complaint more closely resembled, according to Albert Goldman, the comedic world of adolescent Roth and his buddies, with its audacity, ferocity, originality, and sheer fecundity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Once buddies, Robert and Alfred are now rivals.—
Kirk Honeycutt,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Trump’s aggressive second-term agenda has thrilled his supporters, but Democrats are hoping many voters see it as overreach.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Up in a second-deck corner of the GEODIS Park, in Section 233, a group of about 60 spirited Inter Miami La Familia supporters chanted and jumped up and down as Messi and his teammates took the field.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Everyone associates that with us.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Hunger can be another motivator, especially if your feline associates certain times or behaviors with food.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Last summer, following Mamdani’s stunning primary victory, many friends and colleagues were anxious that this Democratic candidate was too liberal, too anti-business, too inexperienced for the global stage, and simply too young.—
Sally Susman,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The plan is certain to divide the Democratic caucus — and possibly also their Republican colleagues — as senators try to assemble a bipartisan deal to reopen the government, ending 35 days of a debilitating shutdown.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Short-term rentals have been a hot-button issue for Nantucket, with supporters of tighter limits arguing that wealthy tourists are gobbling up all the housing options for workers and proponents of a more lax policy highlighting how important visitors are to the island’s economy.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The nascent market is currently led by the likes of Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation, and proponents say the technology can ease air traffic congestion.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
When a young girl (Ricci) moves into a haunted house, Casper befriends her and the two become inseparable.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Monroe takes a supporting role in Greta, Neil Jordan’s psychological horror film about a young woman (Chloë Grace Moretz) who befriends a mysterious older woman (Isabelle Huppert in the title role) and soon finds she’s accidentally bonded with a monster.—
Matthew Jackson,
Vulture,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The regime, still tightly controlled by Kim Jong Un, is likely to maintain existing structures and policies, with Choe Ryong Hae and other confidants continuing to implement the leader's priorities.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The two play best friends on camera, and Hudson has become one of Song’s closest confidants in real life.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Employees who have positive AI experiences become AI advocates, driving organic adoption throughout the organization.—
François Candelon,
Fortune,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Many parents and online safety advocates think more can be done.—
Angela Yang,
NBC news,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Friends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/friends. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share