friends 1 of 2

noun

plural of friend
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

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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

friends

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of friend
as in associates

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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 friends
Noun
The three friends who traveled with Wells on the boat to Horn Island have been interviewed in depth, the sheriff told the Sun Herald. — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 20 July 2026 Sharing the clean-air tips in this article may be helpful to day care providers or friends and relatives your child visits often. — Dr. Lauren Zajac, Boston Herald, 19 July 2026 Last-minute maneuvers to force the hands of aldermen on what looks more like appointments of friends and allies than people with leadership potential is cronyism that is being supported by those the mayor chooses to surround himself with. — Nik Hunder, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026 Morton, 49, became friends with a male member, who was also part of the Magic Circle, the British organization dedicated to magic. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 19 July 2026 The Hollywood project portrayed Belfort and his friends using drugs while splurging on luxury goods and participating in illicit activities. — Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026 Their attention is split across a feed of friends, acquaintances, advertisements, family, celebrities, influencers, brands and strangers – all competing for the same limited mental resources. — Matthew Pittman, The Conversation, 17 July 2026 While discussing the vows with her cohosts, George Stephanopoulos and Michael Strahan, Roberts added that Swift and Kelce's neighbors and high school friends were also among the attendees. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 6 July 2026 Most players who have toiled in the minor league system debut in front of applauding friends and family. — Liana Handler follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for friends
  1. buddies
  2. supporters
  3. associates
  4. colleagues
  5. proponents
  6. befriends
  7. confidants
  8. advocates
Noun
  • Konkey and Peterson have been neighborhood buddies since grade school, but last year was their first season together playing football in high school.
    — Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026
  • Like its 2023 predecessor, Evil Dead Burn starts with the brisk dispatch of secondary characters at a pretty lakeside spot — the film was shot in New Zealand — where buddies Jared (Keanu Karim) and Leo (Tapiwa Soropa) are fishing.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026
Definition of buddies
Noun
  • Video from Reuters shows Houthi supporters in Yemen gathering in the capital Sanaa on Monday night praising the naval blockade.
    — Jomana Karadsheh, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
  • Each was cast as the antagonist in the game that saw England’s exit, prompting invective from rival supporters on their return and a siege mentality in Manchester.
    — Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of supporters
Verb
  • The productivity boom everyone associates with the personal computer didn’t actually show up in the macro data until 15 years after the PC was commercialized.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 July 2026
  • The two-time Oscar winner, who was born in Concord and grew up in the East Bay, associates that sign with some of his favorite Bay Area childhood memories.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 15 June 2026
Definition of associates
Noun
  • Hashesh and her colleagues detailed their findings in a study published today in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 17 July 2026
  • This story is based on dozens of interviews with Jean, her friends and colleagues, law enforcement officials, psychologists, academics and experts in the field of romance scams, as well as a review of more than 10,000 messages.
    — Juliet Linderman, Fortune, 16 July 2026
Definition of colleagues
Noun
  • Trump’s proponents may argue these definitions are ageing, and precedents have been set in recent years that leave the battlefield a wholly more callous place.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • Among Miami’s billionaires, Griffin has become one of the city’s most vocal proponents.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
Definition of proponents
Verb
  • Gu-cheon, who lacks Yang, is fearful of ggeomeoksali, but accidentally befriends one during his time in the palace.
    — Kayti Burt, Time, 17 July 2026
  • Big Boo also befriends Pennsatucky, but she’s transferred from Litchfield after the season 5 riot.
    — Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 11 July 2026
Definition of befriends
Noun
  • Perhaps nobody is better suited to marvel at Walker’s recent success than Chenoweth, an assistant hitting coach for the Cardinals and one of Walker’s closest confidants in the organization.
    — Katie Woo, New York Times, 15 July 2026
  • Complete strangers become confidants, newcomers are entrusted with the secret rituals of the forest (like shouting for the always elusive Carl), and trading trinkets and kandi is the reigning social currency.
    — Taryn Valentine, SPIN, 10 July 2026
Definition of confidants
Noun
  • Canada were the biggest advocates, with 27 box-throws attempted.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Given the sensitivity of the case, and how its outcome will likely impact Francis’ legacy, any news about the Rupnik trial has been closely followed by victims and their advocates.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
Definition of advocates

Phrases Containing friends

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friendly
friends
friendship
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Cite this Entry

“Friends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/friends. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of friends for Spanish Speakers

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