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
Back on June 20, Sinibaldi went out with friends and family to celebrate her 29th birthday at Blu On The Hudson in Weehawken. — Andrew Ramos, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 Health officials did not name Lillian as the infected resident, but friends and family identified her to several local news outlets. — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026 The film also serves as a tribute to friends and loyal customers who have helped shape the business. — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026 About 75 friends, family and local dignitaries gathered at Paul’s Family Restaurant at the corner of Lawrence Avenue and McLean Boulevard to honor its 65th year in Elgin. — Rick West, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026 The Idea That Sparked Vineyard Icon Born and raised in Martha’s Vineyard, Goldson grew up surrounded by family and friends. — Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 More than two dozen friends and family traveled from Ohio and waved a Marietta College flag for each of his plate appearances. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026 His interest in moderating panels was sparked a couple of years ago by another panelist and the encouragement of his friends. — Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026 Fergie has reportedly been staying with different friends the last few months, but would love something more permanent. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 16 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for friends
  1. buddies
  2. supporters
  3. associates
  4. colleagues
  5. proponents
  6. befriends
  7. confidants
  8. advocates
Noun
  • Mel might be a disaster with her loud mouth and impolite antics, but her over-the-top meddling does her buddies some good.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In high school, Messick and his buddies would gather in one of their backyard pools, order pizza and watch the All-Star week festivities.
    — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of buddies
Noun
  • The government said Khan’s supporters had begun gathering outside the private hospital in violation of the court order, which required them to stay away from the medical facility to avoid inconveniencing other patients.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Lindsay Clancy supporters rally for her as critics question where kids' advocates are.
    — , FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of supporters
Verb
  • What being Southern meant to his father—and the values Duane associates with being a Southern gentleman.
    — Sid Evans, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of associates
Noun
  • Poliński, a professor at the Institute of Archaeology at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland, and his colleagues began excavating the site in Pień near Dąbrowa Chełmińska in 2005.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Thankfully, soil typicity and climate in the Napa Valley allow winemakers to make wine from Sauvignon Blanc grapes similar to their colleagues in France, with more refined, complex, and restrained profiles.
    — Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of colleagues
Noun
  • As for the animal health risk, many proponents point out that screwworm made it into the US either through infested wildlife or via flies themselves while the border was closed to the cattle trade.
    — Max Saltman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Termini could not provide an explanation as to why proponents opted to revive an unrelated, inactive bill.
    — Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of proponents
Verb
  • The film memorably told the story of a young boy who befriends and tries to free a killer whale who has been captured in the wild and is living in an aquarium.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026
  • In the midst of it, Etna befriends a small, eager canine, Semeru, who knows Soojin and helps Etna reunite with her.
    — Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of befriends
Noun
  • Kloots serves as one of Jowsey’s three confidants on the show, guiding him — alongside Georgia Hassarati and Sonny Henty — in choosing his future wife.
    — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of confidants
Noun
  • Following the fatal crashes, transit advocates called on New Yorkers to vote in November on Ballot Question 3, which would expedite the review process for small infrastructure and safe street projects.
    — Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Every September, during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, advocates ask Americans to wear gold in recognition of the children and families affected by cancer.
    — Jason Collins, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of advocates

Phrases Containing friends

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Cite this Entry

“Friends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/friends. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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