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
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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
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Recent Examples of friends
Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Her brother shaved his head alongside her, while friends organized care packages, drove her to sessions and offered constant encouragement.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
One of Tepe’s friends soon went to the couple’s house and found a gruesome scene next to a bed, according to emergency dispatch audio.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026
But is Trump friends with Jeff Bezos, too?
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 6 Jan. 2026
At the dedication ceremony, family, friends, dignitaries and residents gathered to honor Saul’s generosity.
—Norman B. Gildin, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
So the thing that’s exciting me, even more than sitting behind the judges table and being on television, is hanging out with my friends.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2025
For now, Dreyer and Fichera are purely focused on moving forward as friends and co-parenting their kids.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2025
But as Brandon Contes of Awful Announcing points out, Cowherd and Payton are close friends, stemming from the latter’s time with Fox Sports during his break from coaching, prompting some to question if Cowherd may be more in the know with this particular situation than some might think.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
But friends who settled in America urged them to move across the Atlantic, where the training facilities were better and the opportunity for ice time aplenty.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Her brother shaved his head alongside her, while friends organized care packages, drove her to sessions and offered constant encouragement.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
One of Tepe’s friends soon went to the couple’s house and found a gruesome scene next to a bed, according to emergency dispatch audio.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026
But is Trump friends with Jeff Bezos, too?
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 6 Jan. 2026
At the dedication ceremony, family, friends, dignitaries and residents gathered to honor Saul’s generosity.
—Norman B. Gildin, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
So the thing that’s exciting me, even more than sitting behind the judges table and being on television, is hanging out with my friends.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2025
For now, Dreyer and Fichera are purely focused on moving forward as friends and co-parenting their kids.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2025
But as Brandon Contes of Awful Announcing points out, Cowherd and Payton are close friends, stemming from the latter’s time with Fox Sports during his break from coaching, prompting some to question if Cowherd may be more in the know with this particular situation than some might think.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for friends
Noun
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That would also certainly be one of the biggest jumps from last year, though one of Bednar’s other buddies, San Jose’s Ryan Warsofsky, might help the Sharks to an even bigger improvement.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
11 Jan. 2026
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The September mid-day heat was rising steadily, so the two buddies went back to their vehicle to rest and regroup.—
Bob McNally,
Outdoor Life,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Julia Mejia arguably received the most favorable committee chairmanship of Worrell’s supporters, with education.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
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As Venezuelans have slowly emerged from their homes to buy groceries, see family, and go back to work, many are leaving their phones at home, concerned about their devices being searched by armed supporters of the government known as colectivos.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Greene’s heart-to-heart media tour has been jarring liberals and anyone else who associates her with conspiratorial beliefs and outrageous comments.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
21 Nov. 2025
-
Everyone associates that with us.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Cruz also pressed his Democratic colleagues to join a bipartisan request for the DOJ to turn over the evidentiary basis for the subpoenas, arguing transparency was necessary to assess whether the secrecy orders were justified.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
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Last year, following Hoda Kotb's January 2025 departure, the fourth hour of the morning show was retitled Today With Jenna & Friends, and saw Hager joined by a rotating cast of A-listers and colleagues to help her anchor the program.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But proponents of the industry claim that the environmental costs still net out as a plus since the space data centers take processing off the fossil-fuel-burning grid.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
7 Jan. 2026
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One of the biggest proponents of the capri resurgence, the supermodel has been making a stylish case for cropped pants since last summer—and her latest iteration takes the divisive Noughties silhouette into Italian girl style territory.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In a town plagued with sudden deaths and missing persons, a troubled eight-year-old girl befriends a boy that lives in the shadows, and her new stepmom learns why things that live in the dark don’t want to be seen.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
6 Jan. 2026
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Gatto, to be directed by Luca filmmaker Enrico Casarosa, follows Nero, a water-hating black cat living in the picturesque city of Venice, Italy, who befriends Maya, a lonely street musician.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
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In addition to Chase and his family, the doc includes revealing interviews with the star’s former collaborators and confidants, including Mike Ovitz, Dan Aykroyd, Beverly D’Angelo, Goldie Hawn, Lorne Michaels, Ryan Reynolds and Martin Short.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
28 Dec. 2025
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Regardless, Rubio has reportedly been telling confidants that Vance has the first right of refusal regarding a presidential campaign.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Environmental justice and conservation advocates’ push to advance a bill aimed at strengthening California’s Environmental Quality Act stalled, as the measure was pulled from Monday’s hearing agenda.—
Chaewon Chung
Updated January 12,
Sacbee.com,
13 Jan. 2026
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Representation matters Autism advocates are celebrating the release of the first-ever Barbie on the spectrum.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Friends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/friends. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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